title: Apolipoprotein E Gene Polymorphisms in Saudi Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
abstract: Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is a glycosylated protein with multiple biological properties. APOE gene polymorphism plays a central role in lipid metabolism and has recently been suggested to regulate inflammation. Our objective is to evaluate whether APOE polymorphism affects susceptibility to SLE. APOE genotyping was performed using ApoE StripAssay™ kit. Results indicated significantly higher frequencies of allele ε4 and genotype ε3/ε4 and lower frequencies of allele ε3 and genotype ε3/ε3 in SLE patients than controls. APOE ε2 allele was found in three patients, whereas it was absent in controls. The frequencies of allele ε4 and genotype ε3/ε4 were significantly higher in SLE patients with renal involvement and those of alleles ε2, ε4 and genotypes ε2/ε3, ε3/ε4 were higher in patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms. It is concluded that APOE allele ε4 is associated with susceptibility risk/clinical manifestations of SLE and ε2 may increase its severity while ε3 is protective for SLE in Saudis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Hannan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al-Rayes
authors.affiliation: Medical Services Department, Ministry of Defence, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ghaleb
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huraib
authors.affiliation: Medical Services Department, Ministry of Defence, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Julkhuf
authors.affiliation: Research Centre, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Misbahul
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arfin
authors.affiliation: Research Centre, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tariq
authors.affiliation: Research Centre, Prince Sultan Military Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdulrahman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Asmari
keywords: Saudi; apolipoprotein E; polymorphism; systemic lupus erythematosus