Common ABCB4 and ABCB11 transporter gene variants are not associated with susceptibility to gallstone formation in the general population

Introduction: Recently a common polymorphism of the hepatobiliary transporter gene ABCG8 (p.D19H) has been identified as genetic risk factor for gallstones in humans1,2. Variants of the two other hepatobiliary ABC transporter genes for biliary lipids, the phospholipid floppase ABCB4 and the bile salt export pump ABCB11, are known to be associated with hereditary cholestatic liver diseases and a peculiar rare form of gallstones (low phospholipid-associated gallstones). Our aim now was to assess the role of common ABCB4 and ABCB11 polymorphisms in an association (case-control) study. Methods: Prospectively, we col…