The allele interaction between apolipoprotein epsilon2 and epsilon4 in Taiwanese Alzheimer's disease patients.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to determine the impact of the present of apolipoprotein epsilon (Apoepsilon) 2 on the relationship between Apoepsilon4 and Alzheimer's disease (AD).


METHODS
We examined ApoE genotypes in 428 Taiwanese patients with AD and 807 controls; all participants were older than 65 years.


RESULTS
The allele frequency of Apoepsilon4 was greater in AD patients than controls, but significantly lower than in Caucasians. The presence of an epsilon2 allele alone was not associated with lower risk for AD, but the presence of an epsilon2 allele was associated with an epsilon4 allele frequency similar to that of controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The low allele frequency of epsilon4 in persons with an epsilon2 allele suggests that this may be part of the protective effect of epsilon2 against AD.
Lung
F-W
FW
Department of Psychiatry, Military Kaohsiung General Hospital, Chung Cheng, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. forwey@ksts.seed.net.tw
Yen
Y-C
YC
Chou
L-J
LJ
Hong
C-J
CJ
Wu
C-K
CK
D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D053329:Apolipoprotein E2; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics* / Q000523:psychology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D005799:Genes, Dominant; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012306:Risk; D013624:Taiwan; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology
D053329:Apolipoprotein E2; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D001057:Apolipoproteins E