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

ObjectivesWe 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 methodsWe 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.ResultsThe apo E allele frequencies were ε2—4.9%, ε3—86.5%, and ε4—8.6%. Men with ε4 allele had lower HDL-C and Apo AI concentrations than ε3 men. The ε2 allele men had the smallest LDL particles, highest percent of subjects with LDL phenotype B and highest TG/HDL-C ratio. Women with ε2 allele had lowest concentration of apo B. The ε4 allele women had smallest HDL particles and highest percent of the subjects with small-sized HDL phenotype.ConclusionsThis study showed gender-related effect of apo E polymorphism on lipoprotein particle size. In men, possession of the ε2 allele is associated with small LDL particles, whereas in women, ε4 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.