Relationship between plasma HDL subclasses distribution and apoA-I gene polymorphisms.
BACKGROUND
It is generally accepted that apolipoprotein (apo) A-I is the dominant structural apolipoprotein of HDL particles and different HDL subclasses have distinct but interrelated metabolic functions. HDL is known to directly affect the atherogenic process hence changes in HDL subclasses distribution may be related to the incidence and prevalence of atherosclerosis.


METHODS
The ApoA-I contents (mg/l) of plasma HDL subclasses were determined by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis coupled with immunodetection and apoA-I genotypes were assayed by PCR-RFLP in 307 Chinese subjects (169 males, 138 females).


RESULTS
The G/G and C/C genotypes were the most frequent at -78 bp and +83 bp of apoA-I gene, respectively. There were no significant differences in the frequencies of rare A allele at -78 bp and rare T allele at +83 bp between males and females. Compared with the G/G carriers, G/A and A/A carriers had significantly higher plasma concentrations of TG, apoC-II, apoC-III, apoA-I contents of prebeta(1)-HDL, HDL(3a) and TG/HDL-C ratio. And in addition, A/A carriers had significantly lower apoA-I contents of HDL(2a) and HDL(2b). Females had increased plasma concentrations of apoA-I, HDL-C, apoA-I contents of HDL(2a) and HDL(2b) while decreased apoA-I contents of prebeta(1)-HDL, HDL(3b) and TG/HDL-C ratio as compared to males carrying the same genotype. No significant differences were demonstrated on the concentrations of plasma lipids, lipoproteins, apolipoproteins and apoA-I contents of plasma HDL subclasses between the C/C and C/T subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The G/A polymorphism at -78 bp of apoA-I gene was associated with changes of HDL subclasses distribution. There was a general shift towards smaller-sized HDL, which, in turn, indicated that reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) might be weakened and HDL maturation might be abnormal in the subjects with G/A mutation.
Jia
Lianqun
L
Apolipoprotein Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041 Sichuan, People's Republic of China.
Bai
Huai
H
Fu
Mingde
M
Xu
Yanhua
Y
Yang
Yuye
Y
Long
Shiyin
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification*; D053440:Lipoproteins, HDL3; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D010316:Particle Size; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D053440:Lipoproteins, HDL3; D014280:Triglycerides