title: The importance of plasma apolipoprotein E concentration in addition to its common polymorphism on inter-individual variation in lipid levels: results from Apo Europe.
abstract: Interindividual variation in the concentration of plasma lipids which are associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) risk is determined by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. This study investigates the effects of apoE genotype and plasma concentration on cholesterol and triglycerides (TG) levels in subjects from five countries: Finland, France, Northern Ireland, Portugal, and Spain. Age and sex significantly influenced serum cholesterol, TG and apoE concentrations. The age effect differs in males and females. The allele frequencies of the apoE gene, one of the most widely studied CAD susceptibility genes, were determined: the epsilon2 allele frequency and the apoE concentration showed a north-south increasing gradient while the epsilon4 allele frequency showed the reverse. ApoE plays an important role in lipid metabolism. Total cholesterol and TG concentrations were significantly dependent on apoE genotype in both sexes. These differences in lipids between genotypes were more pronounced when plasma apoE concentrations were taken into account.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U 525 Equipe 4, 30 rue Lionnois, 54000 Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haddy
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Bacquer
authors.forename: Marianne Mansour
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Chemaly
authors.forename: Mickaël
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maurice
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ehnholm
authors.forename: Alun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sans
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Do Carmo Martins
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Backer
authors.forename: Gérard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Siest
authors.forename: Sophia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Visvikis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D003270:Contraceptive Agents; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012907:Smoking; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D003270:Contraceptive Agents; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol