Abstract for presentation at 11th International Congress of Human Genetics

ApoE4 Allele Frequency and Alteration of Vitamin E in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

  • Cheng-Yu Wang, Information System Department; Vascular and Genomic Center, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, Taiwan
  • Wen-Fu Wang, Department of Neurology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, Taiwan
  • Ching-Ling Kuo, Vascular and Genomic Center, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, Taiwan
  • Tien-Cheng Hsu, Information System Department, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, Taiwan
  • Chin-San Liu, Department of Neurology; Vascular and Genomic Center, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, Taiwan
  • Tien-Cheng Hsu, Information System Department, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, Taiwan
  • Chin-San Liu, Department of Neurology; Vascular and Genomic Center, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan, Taiwan

    • Background: Vitamin E (Vit E) is an essential nutrient and neuroprotective agent with characteristic of antioxidant. Apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4) allele and Apolipoprotein E2 (apoE2) allele also play an enhancing/suppressing genetic factor in the progress of Alzheimer's disease (AD) disease respectively. In present study, we investigated the relationship between plasma levels of Vit E and apoE genotype in normal and AD senile populations with age great than 65.
    Methods: Subjects with clinical probable Alzheimer's disease (N=50) were identified by Dementia Clinic. Clinical healthy subjects (N=300) were also enrolled with age and sex match. Questionnaire of nutrition was retrieved in these two populations. Apolipoprotein E4 (apoE4, including apoE3/E4 and apoE4/4) allele and apolipoprotein E2 (apoE2, including apoE2/E2 and apoE2/3) were identified by PCR-RFLP method.
    Results: We found that high proportion of apoE4 allele was noted in AD patients compared with healthy control (25% vs. 10%, P = 0.004, OR = 3.2). Under factor controlling including age, sex, nutrition/diet factors, smoking, we found that significantly decreased plasma level of Vit E in AD patients compared with healthy control (0.92±0.23 vs. 1.98±0.44 ug /mg lipid, P = 0.021). No correlation was found between apoE genotyping and plasma level of Vit E in either AD or normal subjects harboring apoE2 or apoE4 allele.
    Conclusion: ApoE4 allele and plasma Vit E may be two independent risk factors involved in the AD pathogenesis.

    Conference Organiser - ICMS Pty Ltd