title: Rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) lipoprotein(a) and apolipoprotein(a): high frequency of small size apolipoprotein(a) isoforms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Levels of lipoprotein(a), Lp(a), a genetically regulated independent cardiovascular risk factor present in humans and Old World monkeys, are impacted by the apolipoprotein(a), apo(a), gene. Allele-specific apo(a) levels, taking both the apo(a) genotypic and phenotypic characteristics into account, are useful markers to determine atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined (i) the genetic variability of apo(a), (ii) Lp(a) levels, and (iii) allele-specific apo(a) levels in rhesus monkeys (n = 95).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Lp(a) levels differed substantially between animals (range: 4-247 nmol/l) with a skewed distribution toward lower levels. Lp(a) and allele-specific apo(a) levels were inversely related to the number of apo(a) Kringle 4 (K4) repeats. The median apo(a) size was 23 K4 repeats, and the prevalence of a small size apo(a) (≤22 K4) was 43%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Distribution of Lp(a) and allele-specific apo(a) levels in rhesus monkeys reflected the corresponding human patterns, but with a high prevalence of smaller apo(a) sizes.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
authors: Byambaa
authors: B
authors: Enkhmaa
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
authors: Adnan
authors: A
authors: Abbuthalha
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
authors: Erdembileg
authors: E
authors: Anuurad
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.|Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.|California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.
authors: Alice F
authors: AF
authors: Tarantal
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA.|Veterans Affairs, Northern California Health Care System, Mather, CA, USA.
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Berglund
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D017270:Lipoprotein(a) / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D017270:Lipoprotein(a); D020033:Protein Isoforms
keywords: K4 repeat; Old World monkey; apo(a) phenotype; non-human primate