Lipoprotein Lipase Gene Polymorphisms Are Associated with Myocardial Infarction Risk: A Meta-Analysis

Aims: Many studies and researchers have reported on the genetic association between lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene polymorphisms and myocardial infarction (MI). The results, however, have been inconclusive. Therefore, we assessed the relationship of LPL gene polymorphisms and MI risk by performing a meta-analysis. Methods: Literature was retrieved through PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Embase databases. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate the genetic associations between LPL gene polymorphisms and MI risk. A total of nine studies, with 10 individual groups, comprising 2785 cases and 4317 controls were used for this meta-analysis. Results: The allelic (p = 0.0003, OR [95% CI] = 0.86 [0.79-0.93]) and dominant models (p = 0.001, OR [95% CI] = 0.83 [0.73-0.93]), but not the recessive model (p > 0.05) of LPL gene showed that the HindIII variant significantly decreased the risk of MI. In addition, the allelic model (p = 0.04, OR [95% CI] = 0.71 [0.50-0.99]) for the S447X variant showed a significant decrease in the risk of MI. No association was observed between the PvuII variant and MI (p > 0.05). A subgroup analysis based on ethnicity revealed that all of the genetic models (allelic model: p < 0.00001, OR [95% CI] = 0.62 [0.51-0.77]; dominant model: p = 0.003, OR [95% CI] = 0.66 [0.50-0.87]; recessive model (p = 0.02, OR [95% CI] = 0.47 [0.25-0.88]) found an association of the HindIII polymorphism with MI in the Asian, but not in the Caucasian population (p > 0.05). Under the dominant model the HindIII SNP was also shown to be associated with MI risk in the Caucasian population (p = 0.03, OR [95% CI] = 0.87 [0.76-0.99]). In addition, the allelic (p = 0.02, OR [95% CI] = 0.75 [0.59-0.95]) and dominant models (p = 0.02, OR [95% CI] = 0.51 [0.29-0.90]) for S447X demonstrated a significantly decreased MI risk in the Caucasian, but not in the Asian population (p > 0.05). Conclusions: LPL HindIII and S447X polymorphisms, but not PvuII might be the protective factors for MI. To confirm these results, case-control studies with larger numbers of subjects need to be conducted.

Automated summary

The meta-analysis suggests that LPL HindIII and S447X polymorphisms may be protective factors for myocardial infarction, while PvuII is not associated. There are ethnic differences in the response to these polymorphisms, indicating the need for larger case-control studies to confirm the results.