title: Lipoprotein lipase and apoE polymorphisms: relationship to hypertriglyceridemia during pregnancy.
abstract: Pregnancy is associated with increases in plasma total cholesterol (TC) and triglycerides (TG). Individuals with decreased LPL activity have a mild form of hypertriglyceridemia. Variations in the apolipoprotein E (apoE) gene have been associated with increases in plasma TG in addition to differences in plasma TC, LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C). Because of the overproduction of TG-rich VLDL, normal pregnancy challenges the lipolytic capacity of LPL and the clearance of remnants particles. During pregnancy, LPL and apoE polymorphisms may contribute to hypertriglyceridemia. This study investigated the impact of three LPL polymorphisms and the apoE genotypes on lipid levels during pregnancy. Fasting plasma lipids were measured and analyses of the LPL and apoE polymorphisms were performed in 250 women in the third trimester of pregnancy. S447X carriers had lower TG (P = 0.003), and N291S carriers had lower HDL-C (P < 0.02) and higher fractional esterification rate of HDL (FER(HDL)) (P = 0.007), a measure of HDL particle size, than the noncarriers. The E2 allele was associated with lower TC, LDL-C, and FER(HDL) (P < 0.05) compared to the E3/E3 genotype. These findings support that LPL and apoE polymorphisms play an important role in lipid metabolism in pregnancy. The relationship of these polymorphisms to risk of coronary heart disease in women requires further study.
authors.affiliation: Atherosclerosis Specialty Laboratory, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 1081 Burrard Street, Suite 180-20, Vancouver BC, Canada V6Z 1Y6.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: McGladdery
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Frohlich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000235:genetics; D004951:Esterification; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D005865:Gestational Age; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000235:genetics*; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010316:Particle Size; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase