MTP Gene Variants and Response to Lomitapide in Patients with Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia

J Atheroscler Thromb. 2016 Jul 1;23(7):878-83. doi: 10.5551/jat.34777. Epub 2016 May 10.

Abstract

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is a rare genetic disorder, which leads to premature cardiovascular diseases. Microsomal triglyceride transport protein (MTP) inhibitors, such as lomitapide, offer a new therapeutic approach for treating these patients. We evaluated the lipid lowering (LL) efficacy of lomitapide according to several gene variants in MTP. Four clinically and/or molecularly defined HoFH patients were treated with lomitapide in addition to conventional high intensity LL therapy and regular lipoprotein apheresis. Two patients responded to the therapy, with a significant reduction of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C>50%, hyper-responders). Sequencing of all exonic and intronic flanking regions of the MTP gene in all patients revealed 36 different variants. The hyper-responders to lomitapide shared six common variants: rs17533489, rs79194015, rs745075, rs41275715, rs1491246, and rs17533517, which were not seen in hypo-responders (reduction in LDL-C<50%). We suggest that in HoFH variants in the MTP gene may impact on the therapeutic response to lomitapide, but this requires further investigation.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anticholesteremic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Benzimidazoles / pharmacology*
  • Carrier Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Female
  • Genetic Variation / genetics*
  • Homozygote
  • Humans
  • Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / drug therapy
  • Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / genetics*
  • Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prospective Studies
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anticholesteremic Agents
  • BMS201038
  • Benzimidazoles
  • Carrier Proteins
  • microsomal triglyceride transfer protein