Identification of mutations in the apolipoprotein B-100 gene and in the PCSK9 gene as the cause of hypocholesterolemia

Abstract

Background Characterization of the normally occurring mutations as the cause of hypocholesterolemia may increase our understanding of the normal lipid metabolism. Methods DNA from 93 unrelated hypocholesterolemic subjects with a mean (±SD) value for total serum cholesterol of 3.3 (± 0.5) mmol/l) were subjected to DNA sequencing of the individual exons of the apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB-100) gene and of the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) gene. The same analyses were also performed in 23 unrelated subjects with autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia who had unusually low levels of total serum cholesterol. Results Of the 93 hypocholesterolemic subjects, 9 subjects (9.7%) were heterozygous for a truncating mutation in the apoB-100 gene and six subjects (6.5%) were heterozygous for a loss-of-function mutation in the PCSK9 gene. Of the 23 subjects with autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia, four subjects (17.4%) were heterozygous for mutations in the apoB-100 gene. Conclusion Truncating mutations in the apoB-100 gene are slightly more common as the cause of hypocholesterolemia compared to loss-of-function mutations in the PCSK9 gene. It appears that mutations in the apoB-100 gene may completely normalize the lipid profile in subjects with autosomal dominant hypercholesterolemia, whereas loss-of-function mutations in the PCSK9 gene do not have a sufficient cholesterol-lowering capacity.