Identification of a Gain-of-FunctionLIPCVariant as a Novel Cause of Familial Combined Hypocholesterolemia

Abstract

Background:Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the main cause of mortality worldwide and is strongly influenced by circulating low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. Only a few genes causally related to plasma LDL cholesterol levels have been identified so far, and only 1 gene,ANGPTL3, has been causally related to combined hypocholesterolemia. Here, our aim was to elucidate the genetic origin of an unexplained combined hypocholesterolemia inherited in 4 generations of a French family.Methods:Using next-generation sequencing, we identified a novel dominant rare variant in theLIPCgene, encoding for hepatic lipase, which cosegregates with the phenotype. We characterized the impact of thisLIPC-E97G variant on circulating lipid and lipoprotein levels in family members using nuclear magnetic resonance–based lipoprotein profiling and lipidomics. To uncover the mechanisms underlying the combined hypocholesterolemia, we used protein homology modeling, measured triglyceride lipase and phospholipase activities in cell culture, and studied the phenotype of APOE*3.Leiden.CETP mice afterLIPC-E97G overexpression.Results:Family members carrying theLIPC-E97G variant had very low circulating levels of LDL cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, LDL particle numbers, and phospholipids. The lysophospholipids/phospholipids ratio was increased in plasma ofLIPC-E97G carriers, suggestive of an increased lipolytic activity on phospholipids. In vitro and in vivo studies confirmed that theLIPC-E97G variant specifically increases the phospholipase activity of hepatic lipase through modification of an evolutionarily conserved motif that determines substrate access to the hepatic lipase catalytic site. Mice overexpressing humanLIPC-E97G recapitulated the combined hypocholesterolemic phenotype of the family and demonstrated that the increased phospholipase activity promotes catabolism of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins by different extrahepatic tissues but not the liver.Conclusions:We identified and characterized a novel rare variant in theLIPCgene in a family who presents with dominant familial combined hypocholesterolemia. This gain-of-function variant makesLIPCthe second identified gene, afterANGPTL3, causally involved in familial combined hypocholesterolemia. Our mechanistic data highlight the critical role of hepatic lipase phospholipase activity in LDL cholesterol homeostasis and suggest a new LDL clearance mechanism.