title: A complete genomic analysis of the apolipoprotein E gene in Chinese patients with lipoprotein glomerulopathy.
abstract: Mutations of the apolipoprotein E (apo E) gene are thought to play an etiological role in lipoprotein glomerulopathy (LPG), a novel kidney disease. Evidence suggesting that mutated forms of apo E may be present in LPG includes elevated plasma concentrations of apo E in LPG patients and deposition of apo E in their glomerular capillaries, and there are published reports indicating that mutations of the apo E gene are present in the Japanese LPG patient population. Conflicting reports, however, exist in the current literature. Therefore, to strengthen the theory that apo E gene mutations may be present in LPG pathogenesis, we chose to examine the 5.5 kb genomic DNA encompassing the entire apo E locus and adjoining flanking regions, in 17 Chinese LPG patients and 10 normal controls. Results suggest that there are no apo E gene mutations present in our LPG patients, including previously reported apo E mutations associated with LPG. Surprisingly, however, when the apo E sequence used in the current study was compared against the apo E gene sequence published in GenBank, 10 ethnic variation sites were identified in the noncoding regions. We therefore conclude that apo E gene mutations may not be the only etiology of LPG, and it is likely that other abnormalities could play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Nephrology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing University School of Medicine, Nanjing - China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhi-Hong
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jing-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lei-Shi
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D002196:Capillaries / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D023281:Genomics; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E