Genetic evidence that apolipoprotein E4 is not a relevant susceptibility factor for cholelithiasis in two high-risk populations.
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.
Mella
Juan G
JG
Departamento de Gastroenterología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Schirin-Sokhan
Ramin
R
Rigotti
Attilio
A
Pimentel
Fernando
F
Villarroel
Luis
L
Wasmuth
Hermann E
HE
Sauerbruch
Tilman
T
Nervi
Flavio
F
Lammert
Frank
F
Miquel
Juan Francisco
JF
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
D053327:Apolipoprotein E4; D008074:Lipoproteins; D002784:Cholesterol