title: A competitive reverse transcription-PCR to study apolipoprotein epsilon gene expression.
abstract: We developed a rapid and simple competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for the quantification of apo epsilon mRNA in human monocyte-derived macrophages. The method was applied, and its reliability was shown in patients with the familial lipoprotein disorder, type III hyperlipoproteinemia. Type III hyperlipoproteinemic patients express markedly higher concentrations of apo epsilon mRNA when compared with healthy controls. Patients with this disease are usually (>90%) homozygous for a receptor binding-defective isoform of apolipoprotein apo E (apo E2). The higher expression of apo epsilon mRNA in the patients could, therefore, be a physiological mechanism to compensate for functionally defective apo E. The developed procedure might be valuable in assessment of apo epsilon gene expression in human disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Heidelberg, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rexin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Feussner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D053329:Apolipoprotein E2; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D006952:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
chemical_list: D053329:Apolipoprotein E2; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D012333:RNA, Messenger