Increased serum butyrylcholinesterase activity in type IIb hyperlipidaemic patients.
The inheritance of the apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) allele has been shown to increase the plasma cholesterol level, but little information is as concerns the association of the APOE genotype and hyperlipidaemia and the activities of two serum enzymes, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Blood samples from 55 type IIb hyperlipidaemic, non-demented patients and 55 age- and sex-matched controls were therefore examined in this pilot study. A significantly increased BChE activity was found in the serum of type IIb hyperlipidaemic patients, but the AChE activity did not differ significantly as compared with that in the control group. The APOE4 allele was significantly overrepresented among the hyperlipidaemic probands, but neither serum cholinesterase activity was affected by the dosage of the APOE4 gene. Our results point to a possible association between an abnormal lipid metabolism and the BChE activity and might have implications as regards the pathomechanism of both Alzheimer's and vascular dementias and the cholinesterase inhibitor therapy of dementing disorders.
Kálmán
János
J
Departments of Psychiatry, Albert Szent-Györgyi Center for Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Semmelweis u.6., H-6725 Szeged, Hungary. kalmanj@nepsy.szote.u-szeged.hu
Juhász
Anna
A
Rakonczay
Zoltán
Z
Abrahám
György
G
Zana
Marianna
M
Boda
Krisztina
K
Farkas
Tibor
T
Penke
Botond
B
Janka
Zoltán
Z
D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000097:blood; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D018628:Gene Dosage; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005820:Genetic Testing; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D014280:Triglycerides; D004247:DNA; D002784:Cholesterol; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D002091:Butyrylcholinesterase