title: Genetic evidence that apolipoprotein E4 is not a relevant susceptibility factor for cholelithiasis in two high-risk populations.
abstract: Apolipoprotein E (apoE) isoforms are genetic determinants of interindividual variations in lipid metabolism. To assess whether apoE is a genetic risk factor for cholesterol gallstone disease (GD), we analyzed apoE variants in populations from Chile and Germany, two countries with very high prevalence rates of this disease. ApoE genotypes were determined in Chilean gallstone patients (n = 117) and control subjects (n = 122) as well as in German gallstone patients (n = 184) and matched controls (n = 184). In addition, we studied apoE variants in subgroups of Chilean patients with strong differences in their susceptibility to acquire gallstones: 50 elderly subjects without gallstones in spite of well-known risk factors for this disease (gallstone-resistant) and 32 young individuals with gallstones but without risk factors (gallstone-susceptible). Furthermore, correlation analysis of apoE genotypes with cholesterol crystal formation times, biliary cholesterol saturation index (CSI), and gallstone cholesterol contents was performed in 81 cholecystectomized patients. In this study analyzing the largest sample set available, apoE4 genotype was not associated with an increased frequency of GD in either population. Moreover, in the Chilean population after adjusting for risk factors such as gender, age, body mass index, serum lipids, and glucose, the odds ratio for the association of the apoE4 allele and GD was significantly (P < 0.05) <1. Also, genotypes were not correlated with cholesterol crystal formation time, CSI, or gallstone cholesterol content. In contrast to previous smaller studies, apoE polymorphisms were not associated with susceptibility to cholesterol GD in high-risk populations.
authors: Departamento de Gastroenterología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
authors: Juan G
authors: JG
authors: Mella
authors: Ramin
authors: R
authors: Schirin-Sokhan
authors: Attilio
authors: A
authors: Rigotti
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Pimentel
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: Villarroel
authors: Hermann E
authors: HE
authors: Wasmuth
authors: Tilman
authors: T
authors: Sauerbruch
authors: Flavio
authors: F
authors: Nervi
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Lammert
authors: Juan Francisco
authors: JF
authors: Miquel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D053327:Apolipoprotein E4 / Q000235:genetics*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002677:Chile; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D008074:Lipoproteins; D002784:Cholesterol