HGG Advances (Jul 2023)

A Polynesian-specific missense CETP variant alters the lipid profile

  • Jaye Moors,
  • Mohanraj Krishnan,
  • Nick Sumpter,
  • Riku Takei,
  • Matt Bixley,
  • Murray Cadzow,
  • Tanya J. Major,
  • Amanda Phipps-Green,
  • Ruth Topless,
  • Marilyn Merriman,
  • Malcolm Rutledge,
  • Ben Morgan,
  • Jenna C. Carlson,
  • Jerry Z. Zhang,
  • Emily M. Russell,
  • Guangyun Sun,
  • Hong Cheng,
  • Daniel E. Weeks,
  • Take Naseri,
  • Muagututi’a Sefuiva Reupena,
  • Satupa’itea Viali,
  • John Tuitele,
  • Nicola L. Hawley,
  • Ranjan Deka,
  • Stephen T. McGarvey,
  • Janak de Zoysa,
  • Rinki Murphy,
  • Nicola Dalbeth,
  • Lisa Stamp,
  • Mele Taumoepeau,
  • Frances King,
  • Phillip Wilcox,
  • Nuku Rapana,
  • Sally McCormick,
  • Ryan L. Minster,
  • Tony R. Merriman,
  • Megan Leask

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 4, no. 3
p. 100204

Abstract

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Summary: Identifying population-specific genetic variants associated with disease and disease-predisposing traits is important to provide insights into the genetic determinants of health and disease between populations, as well as furthering genomic justice. Various common pan-population polymorphisms at CETP associate with serum lipid profiles and cardiovascular disease. Here, sequencing of CETP identified a missense variant rs1597000001 (p.Pro177Leu) specific to Māori and Pacific people that associates with higher HDL-C and lower LDL-C levels. Each copy of the minor allele associated with higher HDL-C by 0.236 mmol/L and lower LDL-C by 0.133 mmol/L. The rs1597000001 effect on HDL-C is comparable with CETP Mendelian loss-of-function mutations that result in CETP deficiency, consistent with our data, which shows that rs1597000001 lowers CETP activity by 27.9%. This study highlights the potential of population-specific genetic analyses for improving equity in genomics and health outcomes for population groups underrepresented in genomic studies.

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