title: Association between apolipoprotein E genetic polymorphism and the development of diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent studies, apolipoprotein E (apo E) genetic polymorphism in association with dyslipidemia have been proposed as the one of the risk factors for the development of diabetic nephropathy. We found that type 2 diabetic patients with microalbuminuria (MA) had higher plasma triglyceride levels than those with normoalbuminuria (NA) in our previous study. Therefore, we aimed for investigating the association among apo E genetic polymorphism, dyslipidemia and the development of diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We included 58 subjects with normoalbuminuria and 36 subjects with microalbuminuria in analysis. They were all Korean and type 2 diabetic patients who had normal renal function, history of diabetes longer than 10 years and the data of urine albumin excretion rate at 10th year diabetes duration. Mean HbA1c, plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride levels for 10 years and several clinical characteristics were examined. Apo E genotypes were confirmed by real time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of e3/e4 genotype (20.7% versus 5.6%, p=0.045) and E4 carrier (22.8% versus 5.9%, p=0.035) was significantly higher in NA group than in MA group. On logistic regression analysis, crude odds ratio of E2 carrier and E4 carrier were 0.833 (95% CI: 0.245-2.833) and 0.205 (95% CI: 0.043-0.986), respectively. However, after adjusted by HbA1c, hypertension, total cholesterol and triglyceride, odds ratio of E2 carrier and E4 carrier were 0.664 (95% CI: 0.134-3.289) and 0.365 (95% CI: 0.061-2.187) and the association became weak. There were no correlation between apo E carrier and lipid profile. HbA1c (7.6+/-1.3% versus 7.0+/-0.9%, p=0.012) and mean creatinine (1.2+/-0.7 mg/dL versus 1.0+/-0.2mg/dL, p=0.004) levels were significantly higher in MA group than in NA group as expected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that E4 carrier might be associated with the protection for the development of diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients without respect to dyslipidemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi-Kwang
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Sang Youl
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: Suk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chon
authors.forename: Seungjoon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Jeong-taek
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Sung-Woon
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin-Woo
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Seol
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung-Hwan
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Sang-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Tae-won
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chun-Gyoo
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Ihm
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012016:Reference Values; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol