Clusterin has been implicated in lipid metabolism and atherogenesis, however, the influence of genetic variation has not been examined in Japanese. In this study, we identified 11 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of clusterin gene by direct sequencing. Among them. one promoter SNP (-4453T > G), one missense SNP (41836 > A), and 2 common SNPs (5608T > C and 6316delT) were genotyped in 525 asymptomatic hypertensives not treated with lipid lowering agents. -4453T > G, 41836 > A, and 5608T > C showed no correlation with the clinical characteristics, however, in the 6316delT, an insertion (1)/deletion (D) polymorphism, D/D subjects had significantly higher levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol than I/I subjects in females but not in males. Female subjects with the D allele (D/D + 1/D) had greater intima-media thickness of the carotid artery than I/I subjects. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, the D allele of 6316delT was detected as an independent predictor for the plaque prevalence. In conclusion, the clusterin gene polymorphism may contribute to the serum lipid levels and the progression of carotid atherosclerosis in hypertensive Japanese females. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.