Erythrocyte-bound apolipoprotein B in relation to atherosclerosis, serum lipids and ABO blood group.
BACKGROUND
Erythrocytes carry apolipoprotein B on their membrane, but the determining factors of erythrocyte-bound apolipoprotein B (ery-apoB) are unknown. We aimed to explore the determinants of ery-apoB to gain more insight into potential mechanisms.


METHODS
Subjects with and without CVD were included (N = 398). Ery-apoB was measured on fresh whole blood samples using flow cytometry. Subjects with ery-apoB levels ≤ 0.20 a.u. were considered deficient. Carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) was determined as a measure of (subclinical) atherosclerosis.


RESULTS
Mean ery-apoB value was 23.2% lower in subjects with increased CIMT (0.80 ± 0.09 mm, N = 140) compared to subjects with a normal CIMT (0.57 ± 0.08 mm, N = 258) (P = 0.007, adjusted P<0.001). CIMT and ery-apoB were inversely correlated (Spearman's r: -0.116, P = 0.021). A total of 55 subjects (13.6%) were considered ery-apoB deficient, which was associated with a medical history of CVD (OR: 1.86, 95% CI 1.04-3.33; adjusted OR: 1.55; 95% CI 0.85-2.82). Discontinuation of statins in 54 subjects did not influence ery-apoB values despite a 58.4% increase in serum apolipoprotein B. Subjects with blood group O had significantly higher ery-apoB values (1.56 ± 0.94 a.u.) when compared to subjects with blood group A (0.89 ± 1.15 a.u), blood group B (0.73 ± 0.1.12 a.u.) or blood group AB (0.69 ± 0.69 a.u.) (P-ANOVA = 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
Absence or very low values of ery-apoB are associated with clinical and subclinical atherosclerosis. While serum apolipoprotein B is not associated with ery-apoB, the ABO blood group seems to be a significant determinant.
Department of Internal Medicine, Diabetes and Vascular Center, Sint Franciscus Gasthuis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Boudewijn
B
Klop
Gert-Jan M
GJ
van de Geijn
Sarah A
SA
Bovenberg
Noëlle
N
van der Meulen
Jan Willem F
JW
Elte
Erwin
E
Birnie
Tjin L
TL
Njo
Hans W
HW
Janssen
Addy
A
van Miltenburg
J Wouter
JW
Jukema
Manuel Castro
MC
Cabezas
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D008055:Lipids