Unilab probes genes’ link to high cholesterol

Filipino scientists at leading pharmaceutical company United Laboratories Inc. are now looking at genes associated with cardiovascular diseases to determine more responsive treatment methods for Filipinos with high cholesterol.

Dr. Alex Tuazon, Unilab division vice president for medical affairs, said Unilab scientists are now looking in particular at a gene that encodes a substance called cholesteryl ester transfer protein or CETP.

"CETP is an enzyme that plays an important role in the metabolism of cholesterol," said Tuazon. "The variation in the CETP gene may exist in any of these forms: CEPT B1B1, CETP B1B2 and CEPT B2B2. Any of these variations or polymorphisms can affect the regulation of cholesterol levels in the human blood."

"To determine how these genetic variations affect the treatment of patients with high cholesterol, Unilab scientists are examining the genetic variations of CETP in a group of patients receiving statin therapy," he said. "Statin is a form of cholesterol-lowering medicine."

Preliminary results of the study show that individuals carrying a CETP B1B1 gene variation responded faster to statin as shown by a rapid increase in HDL or good cholesterol levels within the first two weeks of treatment.

On the other hand, patients who are carrying a variation called CETP B1B2 showed slow response to the statin treatment.

"They therefore require longer treatment before their HDL or good cholesterol level increased," he said.

"The study also found out that majority of Filipino patients who were examined belong to the group that require a long period of statin treatment," he added.

Unilab continues to undertake research studies on chronic diseases like high cholesterol to determine more responsive treatment methods for Filipinos and better help them in disease management.