Iranian Journal of

Background: The scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), as the high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) receptor, is a key component in the reverse cholesterol transportation. The objective of this study was to assess the association between exon1 (G→A) polymorphism of SR-BI gene and lipid profiles among the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) population.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 774 adults (322 males and 452 females) aged 20–70 years, who were randomly selected from among TLGS population. Anthropometrical and biochemical variables for participants were measured. Selected SR-BI gene polymorphism was determined with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using the Alu restriction enzyme.

Results: according to the results of current study, in the Tehran population, the allele frequency of SR-BI (G→A) polymorphism was 0.159 for an allele (minor allele) and 0.841 for G allele. Allele frequencies were in conformity with Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. The result of this study showed that Subjects with the less common allele (allele A), after adjusting for age, have lower HDL-CandHDL3concentrations (p=0.046, p=0.041 respectively).

Conclusion: lipid disorders are caused by the interaction of environmental and genetic factors; therefore, exon1 (G→A) polymorphism of SR-BI gene could not be the only cause for the abnormality in the HDL-C levels. In future, this polymorphism may be use as a molecular marker for diagnosis.