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Youn YC, Lim YK, Han SH, Giau VV, Lee MK, Park KY, Kim S, Bagyinszky E, An SSA, Kim HR. Apolipoprotein ε7 allele in memory complaints: insights through protein structure prediction. Clin Interv Aging 2017; 12:1095-1102. [PMID: 28744113 PMCID: PMC5513808 DOI: 10.2147/cia.s131172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE APOE ε7 gene is a rare mutant form of APOE ε3. The mutation occurs in the lipid-binding domain of APOE. Based on the protein's structure, APOE ε7 is expected to function in lipid and β-amyloid metabolism, similar to APOE ε4. However, unlike that for APOE ε4, the mechanisms responsible for Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases associated with APOE ε7 expression have not been elucidated. The present study aims to investigate the association between APOE ε7 expression and cognitive impairment. METHODS APOE was sequenced in DNA samples collected from 344 memory-complaint patients who visited the memory clinic, and from 345 non-memory-complaint individuals from the health promotion center. The protein structures of ApoE3, ApoE4, and ApoE7 were predicted. RESULTS Three ε3/ε7 heterozygote individuals who were all classified under the memory-complaint group were identified. Of these, two subjects were clinically diagnosed with AD with small vessel disease, and the remaining individual was diagnosed with subjective cognitive impairment. This study predicted the protein structures of ApoE3, ApoE4, and ApoE7 and determined the three-dimensional structure of the carboxy terminus of ApoE7, which participates in an electrostatic domain interaction similar to that of APOE ε4. APOE K244 or K245 mutations for APOE ε7 were not found in the Korean reference genome database, which contains information (http://152.99.75.168/KRGDB/browser/mainBrowser.jsp) from 622 healthy individuals. CONCLUSION As verified by the results of structural prediction, APOE ε7 could serve as another risk factor for cognitive impairment and is particularly associated with vascular disease. However, additional studies are required to validate the pathogenic nature of APOE ε7.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yong Kwan Lim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul
| | | | - Vo Van Giau
- College of BioNano Technology, Gachon BioNano Research Institute, Gachon University
| | - Mi-Kyung Lee
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul
| | | | - SangYun Kim
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital.,Department of Neurology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, South Korea
| | - Eva Bagyinszky
- College of BioNano Technology, Gachon BioNano Research Institute, Gachon University
| | - Seong Soo A An
- College of BioNano Technology, Gachon BioNano Research Institute, Gachon University
| | - Hye Ryoun Kim
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul
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Association of the C47T Polymorphism in SOD2 with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease in Carriers of the APOEε4 Allele. DISEASE MARKERS 2015; 2015:746329. [PMID: 26696693 PMCID: PMC4678069 DOI: 10.1155/2015/746329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2015] [Revised: 11/12/2015] [Accepted: 11/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Oxidative stress plays an important part in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), the prodromal phase of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent evidence shows that polymorphisms in the SOD2 gene affect the elimination of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in mitochondria. The aim of this study was to determine whether the functional rs4880 SNP in the SOD2 gene is a risk factor associated with aMCI and sporadic AD. 216 subjects with aMCI, 355 with AD, and 245 controls have been studied. The SNP rs4880 of the SOD2 gene was genotyped by RT-PCR and the APOE genotype was determined by PCR and RFLPs. Different multinomial logistic regression models were used to determine the risk levels for aMCI and AD. Although the T allele of the SOD2 rs4880 SNP gene (rs4880-T) is not an independent risk for aMCI or AD, this allele increases the risk to aMCI patients carrying at least one APOEε4 allele. Moreover, rs4880-T allele and APOEε4 allele combination has been found to produce an increased risk for AD compared to aMCI reference patients. These results suggest that APOEε4 and rs4880-T genotype may be a risk for aMCI and a predictor of progression from aMCI to AD.
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Fernández-Martínez M, Elcoroaristizabal Martín X, Blanco Martín E, Galdos Alcelay L, Ugarriza Serrano I, Gómez Busto F, Alvarez-Álvarez M, Molano Salazar A, Bereincua Gandarias R, Inglés Borda S, Uterga Valiente JM, Indakoetxea Juanbeltz B, Gómez Beldarraín MÁ, Moraza López J, Barandiarán Amillano M, M de Pancorbo M. Oestrogen receptor polymorphisms are an associated risk factor for mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease in women APOE {varepsilon}4 carriers: a case-control study. BMJ Open 2013; 3:e003200. [PMID: 24052609 PMCID: PMC3780298 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2013-003200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Examine the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the oestrogen receptor (ER) genes: rs9340799, rs2234693, rs2228480 (in the ESR1 gene) and rs4986938 (in the ESR2 gene) as a risk factor for amnesic mild cognitive impairment (MCIa) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and its possible association with the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene. DESIGN We have investigated the independent and combined association of different alleles of the oestrogen receptor genes and APOE*ε4 allele with cognitive impairment using a case-control design. SETTING Participants were prospectively recruited from the neurology departments of several Basque Country hospitals. PARTICIPANTS This study comprised 816 Caucasian participants who were aged 50 years and older: 204 MCIa, 350 sporadic patients with AD and 262 healthy controls. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Clinical criteria and neuropsychological tests were used to establish the diagnostic groups (MCIa, AD and healthy controls). A dichotomous variable was used for each allele and genotype and the association with MCIa and AD was established using Logistic Regression Models. RESULTS Neither alleles nor genotypes of SNPs rs9340799, rs2234693, rs2228480 and rs4986938 of oestrogen receptor genes (ESR1 and ESR2) are independently associated with the risk of MCIa or AD. However, the genetic profile created with the combination of the less represented alleles of these SNPs (expressed as XPAA) was associated with an increased risk for MCIa (OR=3.30, 95% CI 1.28 to 8.54, p=0.014) and AD (OR=5.16, 95% CI 2.19 to 12.14, p<0.001) in women APOE*ε4 allele carriers. CONCLUSIONS The less represented alleles of SNPs studied are associated with MCIa and AD in APOE*E4 carriers. In particular, the genetic profile created with the less represented alleles of ESR1 and ESR2 SNPs are associated with an increased risk for MCIa and AD in women APOEε4 allele carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Fernández-Martínez
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Cruces, BioCruces Health Research Institute, Barakaldo, Bizkaia, Spain
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Elcoroaristizabal Martín X, Fernández Martínez M, Galdos Alcelay L, Molano Salazar A, Bereincua Gandarias R, Inglés Borda S, Gómez Busto F, Uterga Valiente JM, Indakoetxea Juanbeltz B, Gómez Beldarraín MA, de Pancorbo MM. Progression from amnesic mild cognitive impairment to Alzheimer's disease: ESR1 and ESR2 polymorphisms and APOE gene. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2012; 32:332-41. [PMID: 22311091 DOI: 10.1159/000335541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/28/2011] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many genes have been studied to determine how they might be involved in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Estrogens have a protective effect in the central nervous system. The mechanisms of action of estrogens are mediated by two estrogen receptors (ERs), ERα and ERβ. Thus, these genes could also play a role in the progression of amnesic mild cognitive impairment (MCIa) to AD. The aim of this study was to examine the role of ER single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as a risk factor for MCIa, as well as the interaction with apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 in the progression to AD. METHODS 79 MCIa patients and 138 healthy controls were analyzed. SNPs were genotyped via restriction fragment length polymorphisms and real-time PCR, RT-PCR or RT-PCR (TaqMan) assays. RESULTS There is a lack of association between MCIa patients who converted to AD and ER SNPs. APOE ε4 allele is an independent risk factor of MCIa (OR=1.86; 95% CI=1.02-3.38, p=0.042) with a high prevalence in converted subjects. APOE ε4 is able to predict the progression from MCIa patients to AD (OR=2.55; 95% CI=1.20-5.42, p=0.015). CONCLUSIONS The presence of the APOE ε4 allele, and not the alleles of ER SNPs, is a risk factor for MCIa. Furthermore, APOE genotype seems to predict the conversion from MCIa to AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Elcoroaristizabal Martín
- BIOMICS Research Group, Department of Zoology and Cellular Biology A, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados Lucio Lascaray (CIEA), University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
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Martínez MF, Martín XE, Alcelay LG, Flores JC, Valiente JMU, Juanbeltz BI, Beldarraín MAG, López JM, Gonzalez-Fernández MC, Salazar AM, Gandarias RB, Borda SI, Marqués NO, Amillano MB, Zabaleta MC, de Pancorbo MM. The COMT Val158 Met polymorphism as an associated risk factor for Alzheimer disease and mild cognitive impairment in APOE 4 carriers. BMC Neurosci 2009; 10:125. [PMID: 19793392 PMCID: PMC2765959 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2202-10-125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2009] [Accepted: 09/30/2009] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this study is to examine the influence of the catechol-O-methyltranferase (COMT) gene (polymorphism Val158 Met) as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment of amnesic type (MCI), and its synergistic effect with the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE).A total of 223 MCI patients, 345 AD and 253 healthy controls were analyzed. Clinical criteria and neuropsychological tests were used to establish diagnostic groups.The DNA Bank of the University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU) (Spain) determined COMT Val158 Met and APOE genotypes using real time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLPs), respectively. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to determine the risk of AD and MCI. RESULTS Neither COMT alleles nor genotypes were independent risk factors for AD or MCI. The high activity genotypes (GG and AG) showed a synergistic effect with APOE epsilon4 allele, increasing the risk of AD (OR = 5.96, 95%CI 2.74-12.94, p < 0.001 and OR = 6.71, 95%CI 3.36-13.41, p < 0.001 respectively). In AD patients this effect was greater in women.In MCI patients such as synergistic effect was only found between AG and APOE epsilon4 allele (OR = 3.21 95%CI 1.56-6.63, p = 0.02) and was greater in men (OR = 5.88 95%CI 1.69-20.42, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION COMT (Val158 Met) polymorphism is not an independent risk factor for AD or MCI, but shows a synergistic effect with APOE epsilon4 allele that proves greater in women with AD.
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Fernández Del Pozo V, Alvarez Alvarez M, Fernández Martínez M, Galdós Alcelay L, Gómez Busto F, Peña JA, Alfonso-Sánchez MA, Zarranz Imirizaldu JJ, de Pancorbo MM. Polymorphism in the cholesterol 24S-hydroxylase gene (CYP46A1) associated with the APOEpsilon3 allele increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease and of mild cognitive impairment progressing to Alzheimer's disease. Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord 2006; 21:81-7. [PMID: 16340204 DOI: 10.1159/000090215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/03/2005] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD) is associated with changes in certain proteins, such as ApoE and Cyp46A1, of the elimination route for cerebral cholesterol. The main lipoprotein involved in its transport is ApoE whose Epsilon4 allele is the least efficient. However, the presence or absence of this allele does not determine the development of LOAD, which implies the existence of other susceptibility factors associated with the disease, such as the CYP46A1 gene that encodes the enzyme cholesterol 24S-hydroxylase. OBJECTIVE To find new data to contribute to the evaluation of whether the presence of the T allele in the polymorphic site rs754203 of the CYP46A1 gene leads to a greater risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and LOAD. Furthermore, given the link between APOE and CYP46A1, we proceeded to relate both genotypes in each of the patient groups studied. METHODS We studied MCI and LOAD patients and also carried out an analysis of those MCI patients who progressed from a mild cognitive deterioration to a clinically evident Alzheimer's disease during the study. RESULTS The frequency of the CYP46A1-T allele in the LOAD patients with APOEpsilon3 alleles is significantly higher with respect to the control group; the same occurs in the group made up of LOAD patients together with the MCI patients who progressed to LOAD. The risk of developing LOAD when this allelic combination exists is 2.262 times higher (95% CI 1.337-4.202). However, having the CYP46A1-T allele does not increase the risk of suffering from LOAD in carriers of the APOEpsilon4 allele, probably because the transport of cholesterol is already affected in such patients and possibly masks the effect of the CYP46A1-T allele. CONCLUSIONS The CYP46A1-T allele increases the risk of suffering from LOAD in persons carrying the APOEpsilon3 allele.
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Abdollahi MR, Guthrie PAI, Smith GD, Lawlor DA, Ebrahim S, Day INM. Integrated single-label liquid-phase assay of APOE codons 112 and 158 and a lipoprotein study in British women. Clin Chem 2006; 52:1420-3. [PMID: 16644874 DOI: 10.1373/clinchem.2006.067082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is an important element of lipid metabolism and, hence, cardiovascular disorders. APOE has 3 main allelic variants: epsilon3, epsilon4, and epsilon2. Of these, epsilon3 is the most common, followed by epsilon4 and epsilon2. The associations of these isoforms with cardiovascular disorders and Alzheimer disease have been widely studied in different populations. Most of the genotyping in these studies has been performed with gel-based methods, which have important limitations, particularly for large epidemiologic studies. We therefore developed an integrated "one-tube" liquid-phase assay. METHODS To measure APOE isoforms, we developed an integrated single-label liquid-phase fluorescence assay containing 2 PCR primers, 2 probes, and 2 quencher oligonucleotides. We used a 384-well LightTyper, but the assay would be generically applicable for use with any fluorescence detector with thermal ramp control. We validated this method and applied it in the British Women's Heart and Health Study. RESULTS There were 4 melting peaks, at 41, 56, 61, and 69 degrees C, which generated 6 distinctive patterns representing genotypic combinations of epsilon3, epsilon4, and epsilon2. The magnitude and direction of the associations found with total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and estimated LDL-cholesterol were consistent with previous reports. CONCLUSION The one-tube LightTyper assay presented here enables accurate, convenient, and economical genotyping of APOE and can be used for large epidemiologic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Reza Abdollahi
- Bristol Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory and Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.
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Alvarez-Alvarez M, Galdos L, Fernández-Martínez M, Gómez-Busto F, García-Centeno V, Arias-Arias C, Sánchez-Salazar C, Rodríguez-Martínez AB, Zarranz JJ, de Pancorbo MM. 5-Hydroxytryptamine 6 receptor (5-HT(6)) receptor and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) polymorphisms in patients with Alzheimer's disease in the Basque Country. Neurosci Lett 2003; 339:85-7. [PMID: 12618306 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3940(02)01425-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Although there is considerable evidence implicating apolipoprotein E (ApoE) epsilon4 in the development of the Alzheimer's disease (AD), additional factors are also known to be involved. Thus, an association has been described between C267T polymorphism of the 5-hydroxytryptamine 6 receptor (5-HT(6)) receptor gene and AD. This case-control study analyzes the ApoE and 5-HT(6) receptor polymorphisms in 173 cases and 102 age and sex matched controls from Araba and Bizkaia (The Basque Country, Spain). The analysis of ApoE showed the frequencies of epsilon4 allele to be significantly higher in AD patients (0.292) than in the controls (0.083). When 5-HT(6) receptor polymorphism was analyzed, a greater frequency of 267C allele was observed in AD patients than in controls, though the difference was not statistically significant. Likewise regarding ApoE epsilon4 status, no statistically significant difference was observed. In conclusion, the association of ApoE epsilon4 to AD in a sample of patients from the Basque Country is confirmed, though the association to C267T polymorphism of the 5-HT(6) receptor has not been observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maite Alvarez-Alvarez
- Departament of Zoololgy and Cellular Dinamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Basque Country, Pasco de la Universidad 7, 01006-Vitoria-Gasteiz, Araba, Spain
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Wilton SD, Honeyman K, Fletcher S, Laing NG. Snapback SSCP analysis: engineered conformation changes for the rapid typing of known mutations. Hum Mutat 2000; 11:252-8. [PMID: 9521428 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1098-1004(1998)11:3<252::aid-humu11>3.0.co;2-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Several approaches may be applied to detect known mutations, including restriction enzyme cleavage, allele-specific oligonucleotide (ASO) hybridization or amplification, dideoxy fingerprinting, and direct DNA sequencing. All these approaches require several extra steps after PCR and may involve radioactive isotopes, time-consuming hybridization, template purification, or digestion steps. The ease and simplicity of the SSCP test make it a popular choice for mutation detection, but a significant limitation is that some DNA changes will not alter the overall conformation of either single strand and are thus not amenable to SSCP typing. We describe Snapback SSCP to genotype normal and mdx mice (an animal model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy) that previously could not be differentiated by conventional SSCP analysis. A snapback primer was designed with additional bases at the 5' terminus, which were complementary to the normal sequence flanking the mdx mutation and used under the original amplification conditions. Each single strand of these snapback PCR products now had one terminus capable of re-annealing or "snapping back" to the normal sequence but not the mdx mutation. In this manner, a conformation change was engineered into the normal strand that could be readily distinguished from the mdx allele on a SSCP gel. This approach could be applied to the routine screening of other known mutations that are not amenable to detection by simple SSCP analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- S D Wilton
- Department of Pathology, University of Western Australia, Australian Neuromuscular Research Institute, QE II Medical Centre, Nedlands.
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Kwon YJ, Tsai J, Relkin NR. NIA/AIzA Conference on apolipoprotein E genotyping in Alzheimer's disease. Bibliography. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1996; 802:177-224. [PMID: 9012315 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1996.tb32609.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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Fabian VA, Jones TM, Wilton SD, Dench JE, Davis MR, Lim L, Kakulas BA. Alzheimer's disease and apolipoprotein E genotype in Western Australia: an autopsy-verified series. Med J Aust 1996; 165:77-80. [PMID: 8692066 DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1996.tb124852.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the relationship between the apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele and autopsy-verified Alzheimer's disease (AD) in an Australian population. DESIGN Retrospective case-control study. SETTING Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, Western Australia (a tertiary referral hospital). SUBJECTS 50 subjects with "definite" AD (according to the histological and clinical criteria of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease [CERAD]) and 30 control subjects who had died from a non-neurological disease were randomly selected from the hospital's neuropathology register. OUTCOME MEASURES Histological grading of brain sections stained with the modified Bielschowsky stain according to the criteria of CERAD; number (burden) of neuritic plaques; apolipoprotein E genotype (APOE). RESULTS Frequency of the epsilon 4 allele was significantly higher in the AD group (37%) than in the control group (2%) (chi 2 = 25.8; P < 0.00001). In the AD group, 50% of subjects were heterozygous for the epsilon 4 allele and 12% were homozygous, while in the control group one subject was heterozygous for the allele and none were homozygous. No association was seen between the epsilon 4 allele and neuritic plaque burden in the hippocampus, entorhinal cortex, middle frontal gyrus or inferior parietal lobule in subjects with AD. CONCLUSIONS Our findings confirm an association between the epsilon 4 allele and autopsy-verified AD. The epsilon 4 allele may be an important risk factor for susceptibility to AD in the general Australian population.
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Affiliation(s)
- V A Fabian
- Department of Neuropathology, Royal Perth Hospital, WA
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Gracey M, Spargo RM, Smith P, Smith RM, Burke V, Beilin LJ, Beilby J, Chin C. Risk factors for ill-health in a remote desert-dwelling aboriginal community in Western Australia. AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE 1996; 26:171-9. [PMID: 8744615 DOI: 10.1111/j.1445-5994.1996.tb00881.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Living in small, isolated groups may promote health for Aborigines if traditional lifestyles are followed, but overall health risks in such communities are inadequately documented. AIM To document health status of a remote Aboriginal community with reference to nutrition, cardiovascular risks, renal disease and infections and to identify areas where health might be improved. METHODS All residents of a small community in the Great Sandy Desert underwent medical examinations, anthropometry and measurement of blood pressure. Investigations included cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, creatinine, lipoprotein (a), apolipoprotein E phenotype, angiotensin-converting enzyme genotype, urinalysis, stool microscopy (children), liver function tests and full blood examination. RESULTS Children (n = 26) were undernourished while 14% of adults (n = 51) were underweight, 22% overweight and 40% of women and 13% of men were obese with central obesity in 90% of women and 48% of men. Fifteen per cent of the group were hypertensive. Insulin levels were increased in 55% of subjects, total cholesterol in 21% and triglycerides in 56%, while HDL was decreased in 78%. Angiotensin-converting enzyme and apolipoprotein E typing and lipoprotein (a) did not suggest increased cardiovascular risk. Proteinuria was present in 39% of subjects, haematuria in 49% and definite or possible urinary tract infections in 30%. Faecal parasites were prevalent and a history of infections, including sexually transmitted diseases, was common. CONCLUSIONS Increased cardiovascular risk, nutritional disorders, renal disease and infections are major problems in this community which had relocated several years previously from a mission environment closer to western influences, including alcohol.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Gracey
- Aboriginal Health Division, Health Department of WA
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