Gender-related effect of apo E polymorphism on lipoprotein particle sizes in the middle-aged subjects

Abstract

Objectives: We determined the frequencies of apolipoprotein E (apo E) alleles and examined the effect of apo E polymorphism on lipoprotein particle sizes in Serbian healthy, middle-aged individuals. Design and methods: We performed apo E phenotype by immunobloting method in 183 men and 143 women (mean years: 56.3 +/- 10.60 and 54.9 +/- 10.31, respectively). Plasma lipid and apolipoprotein levels were measured by routine laboratory methods. LDL and HDL particle sizes were determined by nondenaturing polyacrylamide gradient (3-31%) gel electrophoresis. Results: The apo E allele frequencies were epsilon 2-4.9%, epsilon 3-86.5%, and epsilon 4-8.6%. Men with epsilon 4 allele had lower HDL-C and Apo AI concentrations than epsilon 3 men. The epsilon 2 allele men had the smallest LDL particles, highest percent of subjects with LDL phenotype B and highest TG/HDL-C ratio. Women with epsilon 2 allele had lowest concentration of apo B. The epsilon 4 allele women had smallest HDL particles and highest percent of the subjects with small-sized HDL phenotype. Conclusions: This study showed gender-related effect of apo E polymorphism on lipoprotein particle size. In men, possession of the 62 allele is associated with small LDL particles, whereas in women, epsilon 4 allele is associated with small HDL particles. Differences in gender-related influence of apo E polymorphism on LDL and HDL particle sizes could be clinically useful in strategy for reduction of coronary disease risk in middle-aged men and women.