The association of polymorphisms at a VNTR locus 3' to the apolipoprotein B gene with coronary heart disease in Chinese population.

The polymorphisms of variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) 3' to the apolipoprotein B (apo B) gene were investigated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a sample of 103 patients with documented coronary heart disease (CHD) and 100 healthy individuals selected from Chinese Han nationality. Twelve segregating alleles (3' beta 29-51) were observed in the pooled total of 203 subjects. The most common allele was 3' beta 37, followed by 3' beta 39 with frequencies of 0.362 and 0.296, respectively. This model of allele distribution was coincident with the results form different ethnic groups, but the relative frequencies of alleles were different. In comparison with the allele frequencies between the patients and controls, alleles bigger than 3' beta 39 (3' VNTR-B) were significantly more common among the patients than among the controls (P < 0.001). Moreover, in the CHD group patients with plasma levels of TC > or = 3.88 mmol/L, LDL-C > or = 2.59 mmol/L and HDL-C < 1.16 mmol/L had significantly higher frequencies of 3' VNTR-B allele (P < 0.01). Therefore, it is suggested that 3' VNTR-B allele might be involved in the development of coronary atherosclerosis, presumably through their influences on lipid metabolism.