Sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor (SREBF)-2, SREBF cleavage-activating protein (SCAP), and premature coronary artery disease in a Chinese population

Cellular cholesterol homeostasis is controlled by the sterol-regulatory element binding transcription factors (SREBFs) that are activated by an SREBF cleavage-activating protein (SCAP). SREBF-2 1784G > C single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP, rs2228314) and SCAP 2386A > G variant (rs12487736) are associated with early onset myocardial infarction (MI) and sudden cardiac death in middle-aged men. We investigated whether these two SNPs are determinants of premature coronary artery disease (CAD) in a Chinese population. We studied 431 consecutive patients, including 197 with coronary stenosis ≥50% or previous MI and 234 controls without documented CAD (males 0.05). We could not identify any association between these two SNPs and premature CAD or extent of coronary lesions in a Chinese population.