Mutations in STAP1 are associated with autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia.

RATIONALE

Autosomal-dominant hypercholesterolemia (ADH) is characterized by elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and increased risk for coronary vascular disease. ADH is caused by mutations in the low-density lipoprotein receptor, apolipoprotein B, or proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9. A number of patients, however, suffer from familial hypercholesterolemia 4 (FH4), defined as ADH in absence of mutations in these genes and thereafter use the abbreviation FH4.

OBJECTIVE

To identify a fourth locus associated with ADH.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Parametric linkage analysis combined with exome sequencing in a FH4 family resulted in the identification of the variant p.Glu97Asp in signal transducing adaptor family member 1 (STAP1), encoding signal transducing adaptor family member 1. Sanger sequencing of STAP1 in 400 additional unrelated FH4 probands identified a second p.Glu97Asp carrier and 3 additional missense variants, p.Leu69Ser, p.Ile71Thr, and p.Asp207Asn. STAP1 carriers (n=40) showed significantly higher plasma total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels compared with nonaffected relatives (n=91).

CONCLUSIONS

We mapped a novel ADH locus at 4p13 and identified 4 variants in STAP1 that associate with ADH.