Apolipoprotein E polymorphism in the Indian and Mestizo populations of Mexico.
Apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes were determined in 75 Mazatecan Indians and 83 Mexican mestizos. APOE allele and genotype frequencies in Mazatecans and mestizos were similar, with high frequencies of the APOE*3 allele (0.900 and 0.915, respectively) and the E3/3 genotype (0.813 and 0.831, respectively) and an absence in both samples of the APOE*2 allele. Our data are similar to those previously described for Mexican-American and Mayan populations, which show the highest frequency worldwide of the APOE*3 allele and the E3/3 genotype. Mazatecans and mestizos also show a decreased frequency of the APOE*4 allele when compared to other Amerindian groups. The absence of the APOE*2 allele has also been reported in other Amerindian groups such as Mayans and Cayapa, whereas in Caucasians the average frequency of this allele is about 8%. Our data are in agreement with previous reports showing absence of the APOE*2 allele in Native American groups. These findings suggest that the APOE*2 allele was absent in humans from northern Asia who settled in the Arctic and populated the American continent.
Gamboa
R
R
Department of Cellular Biology, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Juan Badiano No 1, México DF.
Hernandez-Pacheco
G
G
Hesiquio
R
R
Zuñiga
J
J
Massó
F
F
Montaño
L F
LF
Ramos-Kuri
M
M
Estrada
J
J
Granados
J
J
Vargas-Alarcón
G
G
D000328:Adult; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D007197:Indians, Central American / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
D001057:Apolipoproteins E