title: APOE polymorphism and carotid atherosclerosis in Korean population: the Dong-gu Study and the Namwon Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the association between APOE polymorphism and carotid atherosclerosis in two large independent cohorts from South Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  The datasets were from the Dong-gu Study (N = 9056) and the Namwon Study (N = 10,158). Carotid ultrasonography was performed to measure carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and the presence of carotid plaques. The APOE polymorphism was determined by PCR-RFLP. We performed combined and separate analyses for the two datasets.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the combined analysis, individuals with E2E2 or E2E3 genotype had a lower common carotid IMT compared with individuals with E3E3 genotype (0.684 mm vs. 0.736 mm, p = 0.007; 0.718 mm vs. 0.736 mm, p < 0.001, respectively). This association was very slightly attenuated but remained statistically significant after adjustment for blood lipids (0.690 mm vs. 0.736 mm, p = 0.033; 0.725 mm vs. 0.736 mm, p = 0.005, respectively). Compared with individuals with E3E3 genotype, individuals with E2E3 genotype had lower risk for carotid plaque (odds ratio (OR) = 0.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.75-0.93), while individuals with E3E4 genotype had a higher risk for carotid plaque (OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 1.00-1.20). After adjustment for blood lipids, ORs of E2E3 genotype for carotid plaque was slightly attenuated but remained significant (OR = 0.87 95% CI = 0.78-0.97), while OR of E3E4 genotype were slightly attenuated and not significant (OR = 1.08, 95% CI, 0.99-1.18).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that APOE polymorphism is associated with carotid atherosclerosis and this association was partly mediated through blood lipid. Our results suggest that APOE polymorphism may influence atherosclerosis through non-lipid pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA.
authors.forename: Min-Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Su
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Ae
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine & Institute of Wonkwang Medical Science, Wonkwang University College of Medicine, Iksan, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young-Hoon
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chungnam National University Medical School, Daejeon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hae-Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology & Research Institute of Clinical Medicine, Chonbuk National University, Biomedical Institute of Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seul-Ki
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Seonam University College of Medicine, Namwon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyeong-Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Seonam University College of Medicine, Namwon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Yeon
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chosun University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: So-Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chosun University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Seong-Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Genome Research Center for Hematopoietic Diseases, Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital, Hwasun, Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Nam
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hye-Rim
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA.
authors.forename: Jane A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cauley
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Republic of Korea; Jeonnam Regional Cancer Center, Chonnam National University Hwasun, Hwasun Hospital, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: ujingogo@paran.com.
authors.forename: Sun-Seog
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kweon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D056910:Republic of Korea
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E
keywords: Apolipoprotein E; Carotid artery plaque; Intima-media thickness; Polymorphism