BACKGROUND & AIMS: Apolipoprotein (apo) E is a genetically polymorphic protein influencing lipoprotein metabolism and the risk of both atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. As opposed to common apo E3, apo E2 decreases and apo E4 increases hepatic lipoprotein uptake; hence, apo E4 could promote gallstone formation by increasing hepatic and biliary cholesterol concentrations. This study was designed to evaluate whether apo E polymorphism is related to gallstone risk. METHODS: apo E phenotype was determined in subjects older than 40 years of age (160 with and 125 without gallstones) and in 61 patients with cholesterol gallstones who underwent cholecystectomy. Bile composition, nucleation time, and gallstone features were analyzed in surgical patients. RESULTS: The E4/3 phenotype was enriched in both patients with gallstones and those who underwent cholecystectomy, with significantly (P < 0.006) higher epsilon 4 allele frequencies than in gallstone-free subjects (odds ratio, 2.67 [95% confidence limits, 1.23-5.93] and 3.62 [95% confidence limits, 1.49-8.91], respectively); women, but not men, accounted for these differences. The prevalence of the epsilon 4 allele increased with age in patients with gallstones, whereas the opposite occurred in gallstone-free subjects. Biliary lipid and gallstone cholesterol content tended to increase in the sequence E4 > E3 > E2 in patients who underwent cholecystectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Carrying the apo E4 isoform is a genetic risk factor for cholelithiasis in humans, thus adding another adverse effect of apo E polymorphism on health.
BACKGROUND & AIMS:Apolipoprotein (apo) E is a genetically polymorphic protein influencing lipoprotein metabolism and the risk of both atherosclerosis and Alzheimer's disease. As opposed to common apo E3, apo E2 decreases and apo E4 increases hepatic lipoprotein uptake; hence, apo E4 could promote gallstone formation by increasing hepatic and biliary cholesterol concentrations. This study was designed to evaluate whether apo E polymorphism is related to gallstone risk. METHODS:apo E phenotype was determined in subjects older than 40 years of age (160 with and 125 without gallstones) and in 61 patients with cholesterol gallstones who underwent cholecystectomy. Bile composition, nucleation time, and gallstone features were analyzed in surgical patients. RESULTS: The E4/3 phenotype was enriched in both patients with gallstones and those who underwent cholecystectomy, with significantly (P < 0.006) higher epsilon 4 allele frequencies than in gallstone-free subjects (odds ratio, 2.67 [95% confidence limits, 1.23-5.93] and 3.62 [95% confidence limits, 1.49-8.91], respectively); women, but not men, accounted for these differences. The prevalence of the epsilon 4 allele increased with age in patients with gallstones, whereas the opposite occurred in gallstone-free subjects. Biliary lipid and gallstone cholesterol content tended to increase in the sequence E4 > E3 > E2 in patients who underwent cholecystectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Carrying the apo E4 isoform is a genetic risk factor for cholelithiasis in humans, thus adding another adverse effect of apo E polymorphism on health.
Authors: Sidney Pinheiro-Júnior; Marcela A S Pinhel; Marcelo A Nakazone; Anielli Pinheiro; Gisele F S Amorim; Greiciane M S Florim; Camila M Mazeti; Michele L Gregório; Marina G Moschetta; Gilberto B Brito; Sérgio L A Brienze; Carla B Nonino; Antonio C Brandão; Dorotéia R S Souza Journal: Obes Surg Date: 2012-04 Impact factor: 4.129
Authors: M Niemi; K Kervinen; A Rantala; H Kauma; M Päivänsalo; M J Savolainen; M Lilja; Y A Kesäniemi Journal: Gut Date: 1999-04 Impact factor: 23.059
Authors: Gabriella Andreotti; Jinbo Chen; Yu-Tang Gao; Asif Rashid; Bingshu E Chen; Philip Rosenberg; Lori C Sakoda; Jie Deng; Ming-Chang Shen; Bing-Sheng Wang; Tian-Quan Han; Bai-He Zhang; Meredith Yeager; Robert Welch; Stephen Chanock; Joseph F Fraumeni; Ann W Hsing Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev Date: 2008-02-22 Impact factor: 4.254