CETP/LPL/LIPC gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to age-related macular degeneration

Three high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-related loci have been reported to be associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), but the results were inconsistent. In this study, the cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) rs3764261 variant was significantly associated with an increased risk of AMD (odds ratio [OR]=1.13, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-1.21, P<0.001), and the hepatic lipase (LIPC) rs10468017 variant was associated with a significantly decreased risk of AMD (OR=0.81, CI: 0.76-0.86, P<0.001). Individuals carrying the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) rs12678919 polymorphism (A→'G) had no significant change in the risk of developing AMD (OR=1.01, CI: 0.92-1.10, P=0.17). After adjusting for the complement factor H (CFH) gene, both CETP and LPL conferred a significantly increased AMD risk (OR CETP =1.17, CI: 1.08-1.26, P<0.001; OR LPL =1.11, CI: 1.01-1.22, P=0.02). Subgroup analysis based on ethnicity revealed a significant association between the CETP variant and AMD in both Americans (OR=1.12, CI: 1.02-1.23, P=0.01) and Europeans (OR=1.10, CI: 1.01-1.19, P=0.011). This meta-analysis revealed that both CETP rs3764261 and LIPC rs10468017 polymorphisms were significantly associated with AMD risk. After adjustment for the CFH gene, CETP/LPL conferred a significantly increased susceptibility to the disease, indicating potential interactions among genes in the complement system and the lipid metabolism pathway.