Apolipoprotein E polymorphism--a risk factor for metabolic syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Metabolic syndrome is closely related to several disturbances in lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. The aim of this study was to determine the association between apolipoprotein E (apoE) genotypes and the risk of metabolic syndrome and/or coronary heart disease complications.


METHODS
The study included 279 subjects divided into three groups: 1) control subjects, 2) metabolic syndrome patients, and 3) obese patients with coronary heart disease. All subjects were characterized by body mass index, and plasma levels of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). ApoE genotypes were identified by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism using genomic DNA.


RESULTS
Statistical analysis of plasma parameters showed that subjects in groups 2 and 3 had higher levels of triglycerides and lower levels of HDL-C compared to group 1. The frequencies of apoE genotypes determined in this Romanian population (65% for E3/3, 19.6% for E4/3, 9.5% for E3/2, 4.1% for E2/2, 0.6% for E4/4, 1.3% for E4/2) were in agreement with those reported for other Caucasian populations. The distribution of apoE alleles indicated a higher frequency of epsilon4 in groups 2 and 3. There was a higher frequency of the apoE4/3 genotype in groups 2 and 3, which was significantly correlated with higher levels of triglycerides and lower levels of HDL-C.


CONCLUSIONS
Correlations of apoE genotypes with these markers indicate that the epsilon4 allele is an independent risk factor for metabolic syndrome.
Sima
Anca
A
Department of Lipoproteins and Atherosclerosis, Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology Nicolae Simionescu, Bucharest, Romania. anca.sima@icbp.ro
Iordan
Alexandru
A
Stancu
Camelia
C
D000328:Adult; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids