Lp-PLA(2), scavenger receptor class B type I gene (SCARB1) rs10846744 variant, and cardiovascular disease

BACKGROUND: We previously reported association of SCARB1 SNP rs10846744 with common carotid IMT (cIMT) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. Since rs10846744 has been reported in association with Lp-PLA(2) mass and activity, we hypothesized that inflammatory pathways might mediate the association of rs10846744 with atherosclerosis. METHODS: We first examined association of rs10846744 in CVD in multiple large-scale consortium-based genome-wide association studies. We further examined 27 parameters of interest, including Lp-PLA(2) mass and activity, inflammatory markers, and plasma phospholipid fatty acids, and fatty acid ratios in participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), as potential mediators in the pathway linking rs10846744 with cIMT and incident CVD. Finally, we examined the association of rs10846744 with Lp-PLA(2) activity, cardiovascular outcomes, and interaction with the Lp-PLA(2) inhibitor, darapladib, in the Stabilization of Atherosclerotic Plaque by Initiation of Darapladib Therapy (STABILITY) and Stabilization of Plaque using Darapladib-Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 52 (SOLID-TIMI 52) studies. RESULTS: SCARB1 rs10846744 was associated with coronary artery disease events in CARDIoGRAMplusC4D (odds ratio 1.05; 95% CI [1.02, 1.07]; P = 1.4x10(-4)). In combined analysis across race/ethnic groups in MESA, rs10846744 was associated with Lp-PLA(2) mass (P = 0.04) and activity (P = 0.001), homocysteine (P = 0.03), LDL particle number (P = 0.01), docosahexaenoic acid [DHA] (P = 0.01), docosapentaenoic acid [DPA] (P = 0.04), DPA/ eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA] ratio (P = 0.002), and DHA/EPA ratio (P = 0.008). Lp-PLA(2) activity was identified as a mediator of rs10846744 with cIMT in a basic model (P = 8x10(-5)), but not after adjustment for CVD risk factors. There was no interaction or modifier effect of the Lp-PLA(2) inhibitor darapladib assignment on the relationship between rs10846744 and major CVD events in either STABILITY or SOLID-TIMI 52. SUMMARY: SCARB1 rs10846744 is significantly associated with Lp-PLA(2) activity, atherosclerosis, and CVD events, but Lp-PLA(2) activity is not a mediator in the association of rs10846744 with cIMT in MESA.