Impacts of SLCO1B1 c. 388A>G polymorphisms on lipid-lowering and anti-atherosclerosis effects of atorvastatin in Chinese patients with ischemic stroke

Abstract

Objective To investigate the impacts of c. 388A>G polymorphism of the solute carrier organic anion transporter 1B1 (SLCO1B1) gene on lipid-lowering and anti-atherosclerosis effects of atorvastatin in Chinese patients with ischemic stroke. Methods The patients with ischemic stroke whose baseline low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) >1.8 mmol/L were enrolled prospectively. They received atorvastatin (20 mg/d) for 12 months. The lipid and bilateral carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) were measured respectively before and after treatment. The CIMT differences between SLCO1B1 c. 388A>G genotype groups were compared. Results A total of 71 patients with ischemic stroke were enrolled, including 5 AA genotype, 31 AG genotype, and 35 GG genotype. The A allele frequency was 28.9% and the G allele frequency was 71.1%. After treatment, the total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and LDL-C in all patients were significantly lower than those before treatment, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly increase (all P<0.001), but CIMT did not have significant change (P=0.475). The proportion of patients whose LDL-C<1.8 mmol/L or LDL-C decreased ≥50% in the GG genotype group was significantly higher than the AG+ AA genotypes group (74.29% vs. 44.44%; χ2=6.540, P=0.011). Conclusions SLCO1B1 gene c. 388A >G polymorphism could influence the lipid-lowering effect of atorvastatin, lipid-lowering effect in the GG genotype group was better than that in the AG+ AA genotype group. SLCO1B1 gene c. 388A >G polymorphism did not have effect on the anti-atherosclerosis effect of atorvastatin, but it might be associated with too short follow-up time. Key words: Stroke; Brain Ischemia; Atorvastatin Calcium; Organic Anion Transporters; Polymorphism, Genetic; Atherosclerosis; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; Cholesterol, LDL; Treatment Outcome