[Genetic polymorphism of the E apolipoprotein in school age children: comparison with levels of plasma lipids and apolipoproteins].
BACKGROUND
Research in laboratories around the world has documented the contribution of the E apolipoprotein alleles to structural variations of lipids and apolipoproteins.


OBJECTIVE
The gene frequencies of the E apolipoprotein alleles were compared with the lipid and apolipoprotein levels in school age children.


METHODS
Six hundred and ninety one 5 to 15 years old school age children from the Colombian departments of Cundinamarca, Boyacá, Meta, Santander and Norte de Santander, were evaluated. The genotypes of the E apolipoprotein were identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Plasma levels for the following 5 lipids and lipoproteins were assayed: total cholesterol, HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol, LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol, triglycerides, VLDL (very low density lipoprotein) cholesterol, A-I apolipoprotein and B-100 apolipoprotein.


RESULTS
Alleles e2, e3 and e4 were found in frequencies of 0.04, 0.86 and 0.08, respectively. The E4 group (E4/3-E4/4), in contrast with the E2 group (E3/2-E2/2), presented highest plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and B-100 apolipoprotein (p=0.014, 0.001 and 0.000, respectively). When the E3/3 group was compared with E2, the same result was obtained (p=0.015, 0.002 and 0.002, respectively). The influence of the E apolipoprotein polymorphism appeared greater in female children than male.


CONCLUSIONS
The e4 allele was associated with higher levels of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and B-100 apolipoprotein and indicates the necessity of additional research into the interactions between polymorphism E apolipoprotein and other genes, life styles, risk factors and potential contribution to cardiovascular diseases.
Callas
Ney
N
Grupo de Nutrición, Subdirección de Investigación, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá, DC, Colombia.
Poveda
Elpidia
E
Baracaldo
César
C
Hernández
Patricia
P
Castillo
Carlina
C
Guerra
Martha
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000483:Alleles; D001053:Apolipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D003105:Colombia; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
D001053:Apolipoproteins; D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D008055:Lipids; D002784:Cholesterol