J Korean Med Sci.  2015 Jul;30(7):860-865. 10.3346/jkms.2015.30.7.860.

APOE Polymorphism Is Associated with C-reactive Protein Levels but Not with White Blood Cell Count: Dong-gu Study and Namwon Study

• Yun YW
• Kweon SS
• Choi JS
• Rhee JA
• Lee YH
• Nam HS
• Jeong SK
• Park KS
• Ryu SY
• Choi SW
• Kim HN
• Cauley JA
• Shin MH

• KMID: 2164468
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2015.30.7.860

Abstract

We evaluated the association of the APOE polymorphism with serum C-reactive protein levels and white blood cell count in two large population-based studies in Korean. The datasets included the Dong-gu study (n = 8,893) and the Namwon Study (n = 10,032). APOE genotypes were identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship of APOE genotypes with C-reactive protein levels and white blood cell count with adjustments for age, sex, body mass index, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, and serum lipids. In the multivariate model, carriers of E3E4 or E4E4 genotype had significantly lower C-reactive protein levels compared with carriers of E3E3 genotype group (0.50 mg/L vs. 0.67 mg/L; 0.37 mg/L vs. 0.67 mg/L, respectively, for the Dong-gu Study and 0.47 mg/L vs. 0.66 mg/L; 0.45 mg/L vs. 0.66 mg/L, respectively, for the Namwon Study). However, there was no difference in white blood cell count among APOE genotypes. We found that the APOE E4 allele is associated with lower C-reactive protein levels, but not white blood cell count. Our results suggest that APOE genotype may influence C-reactive protein levels through non-inflammatory pathway.

Keyword

C-reactive Protein; Apolipoprotein E; Polymorphism, Genetic; Inflammation

MeSH Terms

Aged
Apolipoproteins E/*genetics
C-Reactive Protein/*metabolism
Female
Genetic Association Studies
Genotype
Humans
Inflammation/*blood/immunology
Leukocyte Count
Male
Middle Aged
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide/genetics
Prospective Studies
Republic of Korea
Apolipoproteins E
C-Reactive Protein

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