Association of low density lipoprotein receptor related protein-associated protein (LRPAP1) gene insertion/deletion polymorphism with gallstone disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Gallstones are byproducts of cholesterol supersaturated bile. Various studies have indicated that there might be a genetic predisposition to the disease. Receptor-associated protein (RAP) is a molecular chaperone for low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP), which plays a key role in cholesterol metabolism. Intron 5 insertion/deletion polymorphism of RAP gene (LRPAP1) has been implicated in other diseases sharing etiology with gallstone disease (GSD).

METHODS

To analyze the association of insertion/deletion polymorphism in GSD, 130 gallstone patients and 202 healthy subjects took part in the present study. For genotyping, polymerase chain reaction was followed by 2% agarose gel electrophoresis.

RESULTS

The results showed that frequencies of D and I allele were 65.77% and 34.23% in patients, 76.24% and 23.76% in controls, respectively. Frequency of I allele was significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group (P = 0.003).

CONCLUSION

In the present study I (insertion) allele was found to be associated with GSD.