Scavenger Receptor Class B Type 1 Gene Polymorphism and the Risk of Premature Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract

remature coronary artery disease (PCAD) is defined as CAD which manifests for the first time under the age of 55 years for males and under 65 years for female. Risk factors for CAD are both environmental and genetic. Accumulating evidences have shown close associations of genetic polymorphisms in candidate genes with the risk of CAD, especially the early-onset CAD. Scavenger receptor class B type1 (SCARB 1) is a multi-ligand cell surface receptor expressed both on macrophages and on liver cells, indicating a major role for clearance of excess cholesterol from the body. This membrane protein facilitates the uptake of cholesterol esters from high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and drives cholesterol from tissues to the liver in the various stages of reverse cholesterol transport pathway.