title: APOE polymorphism and its effect on plasma C-reactive protein levels in a large general population sample.
abstract: The published data remain inconsistent on association between apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene variations and plasma levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), mainly because of low statistical power of previous studies. To clarify this question, we analyzed data from large population sample of randomly selected individuals from seven Czech towns (2,886 males and 3,344 females, the HAPIEE [Health, Alcohol, and Psychosocial factors In Eastern Europe] study). In both males and females, the lowest levels of plasma hsCRP were observed in the carriers of the APOE epsilon 4 epsilon 4 and epsilon 4 epsilon 3 genotypes. The median (interquartile range, IQR) concentration of hsCRP in carriers of the most common APOE epsilon 3 epsilon 3 genotype (two-thirds of participants) was 1.13 mg/l (IQR, 0.56-2.33) in men and 1.23 mg/l (IQR, 0.61-2.65) in women, compared with 0.72 mg/l (IQR, 0.61-0.86) in male and 0.72 mg/l (IQR, 0.61-0.85) in female carriers of APOE epsilon 4 epsilon 3/epsilon 4 epsilon 4 genotypes; the differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The association between APOE and CRP was not materially affected by adjustment for age, sex, history of cardiovascular disease, or cardiovascular risk factors. This study, the largest to date, provides robust evidence of an association between plasma hsCRP and the APOE genotype, an association not explained by history of cardiovascular disease nor its risk factors.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jaroslav A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hubacek
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peasey
authors.forename: Hynek
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pikhart
authors.forename: Petr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stavek
authors.forename: Ruzena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kubinova
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marmot
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bobak
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D018153:Czech Republic; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D002097:C-Reactive Protein