Ser(447stop) mutation in lipoprotein lipase is associated with elevated HDL cholesterol levels in normolipidemic males

This report describes the association between a frequent mutation in the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene and HDL cholesterol levels. It concerns a previously described defect that predicts a premature truncation of the LPL protein (447stop). We determined the frequency of this mutation in three groups of healthy men with low-, middle-, and upper-decile HDL cholesterol. The number of carriers of the 447stop allele was significantly greater in the high HDL group than in either the groups with normal HDL (P=.017) or low HDL (P<.0001). Additional functional assessment of this mutation did not reveal distinct differences between wild-type LPL and the LPL(447stop) protein. In conclusion, we have shown that the 447stop mutation is associated with increased HDL cholesterol in healthy Dutch males, although the underlying mechanism remains to be elucidated. Because HDL cholesterol is strongly inversely related with CAD, this genotype might be of potential benefit to its carriers.