Sex-specific association of the zinc finger protein 259 rs2075290 polymorphism and serum lipid levels

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the association of ZNF259 rs2075290 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and serum lipid levels in the Chinese population. This study aimed to detect the association of ZNF259 rs2075290 SNP and environmental factors with serum lipid levels between males and females in the Mulao and Han populations.

Methods and results: Genotyping of ZNF259 rs2075290 SNP was performed in 788 of Mulao and 778 of Han participants using polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism. The genotype frequencies were significantly different between Mulao and Han populations (AA, 50.1% Vs 58.9%; AG, 42.3% Vs 35.7%; GG, 7.6% Vs 5.4%, P = 0.002) and between Han males and females (AA, 64.5% Vs 55.2%; AG, 28.3% Vs 40.6%; GG, 7.2% Vs 4.2%, P = 0.001). Serum levels of triglyceride (TG) in Mulao males, and total cholesterol (TC), TG and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in Mulao females were different between the AA and AG/GG genotypes (P < 0.05-0.001). Serum TC, LDL-C and apolipoprotein (Apo) A1 levels in Han males, and TG and ApoB levels and ApoA1/ApoB ratio in Han females were different between the AA and AG/GG genotypes (P < 0.05-0.001). An interaction between ZNF259 rs2075290 polymorphism and male gender on serum TC, LDL-C, and ApoA1 levels was noted in Han population (P < 0.05-0.01) but not in Mulao's.

Conclusions: The subjects with AG/GG genotype in Mulao males and females and Han females have less favorable lipid profiles than those with AA genotype. In contrast, the subjects with AG/GG genotype in Han males have more favorable lipid profiles than those with AA genotype. These findings suggest that the association between ZNF259 rs2075290 SNP and serum lipid levels might have ethnic- and/or sex-specificity.

Keywords: environmental factors.; lipids; sex-specific association; single nucleotide polymorphism; zinc finger protein 259 (ZNF259).

Figure 1

Electrophoresis of PCR products and genotyping of the ZNF259 rs2075290 SNP. (A) Lane M, 100 bp marker ladder; lanes 1-6, 331 bp band of PCR products. (B) Lane M, 100 bp marker ladder; lanes 1 and 2, AA genotype (180- and 151-bp); lanes 3 and 4, AG genotype (331-, 180- and 151-bp); and lanes 5 and 6, GG genotype (331 bp).

Figure 2

A part of the nucleotide sequences of the ZNF259 rs2075290 SNP by direct sequencing. (A) GG genotype; (B) AG genotype; (C) AA genotype.