Abstract
Plasma lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is a quantitative trait associated with atherothrombotic disease in European and Asian populations. Lp(a) concentrations vary widely within and between populations, with Africans exhibiting on average two- to threefold higher Lp(a) levels and a different distribution compared to Europeans. The apo(a) gene locus on chromosome 6q26–27 (LPA, MIM 152200) has been identified as the major quantitative trait locus (QTL) for Lp(a) concentrations in Europeans and populations of African descent (North American and South African Blacks) but data on autochthonous Black Africans are lacking.
Here, we have analysed Lp(a) plasma concentrations, apo(a) isoforms in plasma and four polymorphisms in the LPA gene in 31 African families with 54 children from Gabon. Weighted midparent–offspring regression estimated a heritability h2=0.76. The correlation of Lp(a) levels associated with LPA alleles identical by descent (IBD) resulted in a heritability estimate of 0.801. Our data demonstrate that Lp(a) concentrations are highly heritable in a Central African population without admixture and high Lp(a) (median 43 mg/dl). LPA is the major QTL, explaining most or all of the heritability of Lp(a) in this population.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported logistically by PG Kremsner, Tuebingen, Germany, by staff of the Albert Schweitzer Hospital in Lambaréné, Gabon, and by E Schmutzhard, Innsbruck, Austria. We thank Denka Seiken Co. Ltd., Japan, and A Lingenhel and F Kronenberg, Innsbruck, for evaluation of our apo(a) ELISA, and S Rauchenwald and M Hohenegger for excellent technical assistance, and A Golla and M Scholz for valuable statistical advice. The project was supported by grants P 12819 and P 15480 from the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) to G Utermann.
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Schmidt, K., Kraft, H., Parson, W. et al. Genetics of the Lp(a)/apo(a) system in an autochthonous Black African population from the Gabon. Eur J Hum Genet 14, 190–201 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejhg.5201512
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ejhg.5201512
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