Short-term exposure to air pollution and its interaction effects with two ABO SNPs on blood lipid levels in northern China: A family-based study.

We examined the main effects of ambient particulate matters, as well as whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), located within ABO gene would modify the relationship. Data were collected from a family-based study conducted in Northern China. A generalized additive model with a Gaussian link and with each family as a stratum was applied to estimate the percentage change in blood lipid levels following a 10 μg/m3 increase in ambient particulate matter concentrations. Interaction analyses were conducted by including a cross-product term of PM2.5 or PM10 by SNP. Results showed that a 10 μg/m3 increase in Particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm (PM2.5) concentrations corresponded to the highest 0.010% (95% CI: 0.002%-0.018%), 0.018% (95% CI: 0.006%-0.029%), 0.019% (95% CI: 0.010%-0.029%) increase in total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), respectively and 0.005% (95% CI: 0.002%-0.008%) decrease in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)-to-LDL-C ratio. As for the PM10, similar results were observed. Furthermore, our finding showed an interaction effect of PM10 and rs505922/rs579459 C allele on TG. Specifically, individuals carrying the rs505922 and rs579459 T allele have higher TG concentrations following PM10 exposure, with a 10 μg/m3 increase in PM10 concentrations corresponding to the highest 0.028% and 0.034% increase in TG, respectively. In conclusion, short-term exposures to ambient particulate matters are associated with a higher blood lipid level, which can be modified by ABO polymorphism. The findings may be useful in identifying vulnerable population according to genetic background.