Characterization of Apolipoprotein E Genetic Variations in Taiwanese: Association with Coronary Heart Disease and Plasma Lipid Levels

Document Type

Article

Authors

June Hsieh Wu, Molecular Genetic Laboratory 3, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Kwei San, Tao Yuan, Taiwan.
Sing-Kai Lo, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
Ming-Shien Wen, Cardiology Section, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kwei San, Tao Yuan, Taiwan.
Jau-Tsuen Kao, School of Medical Technology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.

Abstract

Apolipoprotein E (apoE, protein; APOE, gene) is important in lipoprotein metabolism. Three isoforms, apoE2 (Cys112 Cys158), apoE3 (Cys112 Arg158), and apoE4 (Arg112 Arg158), are present in the general population. This report investigates the frequency distribution of apoE isoforms and the association of APOE genotypes with plasma lipid profile and coronary heart disease (CHD) in a population of Taiwan. ApoE isoforms were determined genetically by polymerase chain reaction and HhaI restriction enzyme digestion in control and coronary heart disease (CHD) patients. Plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations were also determined. The control group exhibited frequencies of 84.6% APOE3, 7.9% APOE4, 7.5% APOE2, 70.6% APOE3E3, 14.4% APOE3E4, 13.6% APOE2E3, and 1.4% APOE2E4. Comparable frequencies were observed in the CHD group. In both APOE2 carrier and APOE3E3 groups, the CHD patients expressed abnormal lipid profiles while the control group expressed normal lipid profiles. The APOE4 carriers, however, expressed abnormal lipid profiles in both normal control and CHD groups. Extremely high apoE levels in the hypertriglyceridemic group (TG > 400 mg/dL) seemed to be undesirable and were often observed in CHD patients.

Recommended Citation

Wu, June Hsieh; Lo, Sing-Kai; Wen, Ming-Shien; and Kao, Jau-Tsuen (2002) "Characterization of Apolipoprotein E Genetic Variations in Taiwanese: Association with Coronary Heart Disease and Plasma Lipid Levels," Human Biology: Vol. 74: Iss. 1, Article 3.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/humbiol/vol74/iss1/3