©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 9 (1): 89-96 (2010) Association of lipase lipoprotein polymorphisms with high-density lipoprotein and triglycerides in elderly men L.M.Q. Araújo 1 , M.S. Cendoroglo 1 , C.O. Gigek 2 , E.S. Chen 2 and M. de A.C. Smith 2 1 Disciplina de Geriatria e Gerontologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil 2 Disciplina de Genética, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil Corresponding author: L.M.Q. Araújo E-mail: lara.mqaraujo@gmail.com Genet. Mol. Res. 9 (1): 89-96 (2010) Received September 14, 2009 Accepted October 8, 2009 Published January 19, 2010 ABSTRACT. Lipoprotein lipase is essential for triglyceride hydrolysis. The polymorphisms S447X in exon 9 and HindIII in intron 8 have been associated with lower triglyceride levels and lower cardiovascular risk in adult men. We examined the association of these lipoprotein lipase polymorphisms with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglyceride levels in elderly men. Blood samples were obtained from 87 elderly men, 48 of whom had cardiovascular disease and 39 (controls) had no history of cardiovascular events. The lipoprotein lipase polymorphisms were analyzed by PCR-RFLP. Allele frequencies were H- = 27.9% and X = 21.5%. There were no signiicant differences in allele frequencies or blood lipid levels between cardiovascular disease and control groups. However, the X allele was associated with a lower triglyceride/HDL ratio, 2.30 vs 3.02 for X allele absent (P = 0.03); the H-X haplotype was associated with lower triglyceride levels compared to the H+S haplotype (1.22 vs 1.58 mM, respectively) and a lower triglyceride/HDL ratio (2.29 vs 3.26, respectively). The X allele and H-X haplotype were associated with lower triglyceride/HDL ratios in these elderly men, independent of the history of cardiovascular events. Key words: Lipoprotein lipase; Polymorphism; Triglycerides; HDL cholesterol; Elderly