PHARMACOGENOMIC STUDIES OF CHOLESTERYL ESTER TRANSFER PROTEIN (CETP) GENOTYPES IN SUSPECTED CAD PATIENTS

Recent studies have attempted to identify specific genes that contribute to cardiovascular health and disease. Response to various drugs like statins differs from individual to individual, due to polymorphic variations in drug metabolizing genes related to pharmacogenomics of the diseases. The aim of this study was to find out the association of Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene polymorphism rs708272 (Taq1B) with cardiovascular diseases, since variations in the CETP gene alters the HDL-C levels. A Taq1B polymorphism of CETP gene at intron 1, resulted in C to T transition. This transition induced the variations in the levels of its expression leading to altered phenotypes in the subjects. The authors have found that, CT genotypes of CETP gene were associated with higher expression levels as compared to TT and CC genotype. It is concluded that, screening of Taq1B polymorphism may help to predict the prognosis of cardiovascular diseases and also their response to statins and other cholesterol lowering drugs.