Major gene effects on apolipoprotein B concentrations in families of adolescents--results from a community-based study in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
Apolipoprotein (Apo) B is considered as a risk factor for atherosclerosis. Previous reports of segregation analyses on the mode of inheritance of Apo B were inconsistent because of heterogeneity in study population or elderly adult diseased probands. We performed complex segregation analysis of Apo B levels in the families of adolescents, systematically ascertained from junior high school students in a rural community in Taiwan.


RESULTS
There is a sex-specific influence in the variation of apo B levels. The mother-daughter (0.216), sister-sister (0.181), sister-brother (0.179) correlations were higher than father-son (0.206), brother-brother (0.002) or cross-sex correlations for the variation in Apo B levels. By the variance component model, the heritability estimate was 26.3+/-6.7% (P<.0001) in Apo B levels. Commingling analysis indicated that a 2-component distribution was needed to account for Apo B variation. Segregation analysis using regressive models revealed that the best-fit model of Apo B was the model of major gene effect plus familial correlation. The gene frequency controlling high Apo B was 0.17, and 3 means of genotypes were 56.3, 54,2, and 117.2 mg/dl.


CONCLUSIONS
Variations of Apo B levels in the normal range among adolescent families are controlled by major gene, and further identification of this gene locus will be mandatory.
Chien
Kuo-Liong
KL
Institute of Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taiwan.
Chen
Wei J
WJ
Hsu
Hsiu-Ching
HC
Su
Ta-Chen
TC
Chen
Ming-Fong
MF
Lee
Yuan-Teh
YT
D000293:Adolescent; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013624:Taiwan
D001055:Apolipoproteins B