Apolipoprotein AI and Apolipoprotein B gene polymorphisms and lipid profile in Tamilian population

Apolipoprotein (ApoAI) is the major protein constituent of high density lipoproteins (HDL). Apolipoprotein (apo) B-100, a component of low density lipoprotein (LDL), serves as a ligand for the removal of LDL from the circulation by the LDL receptor. Genotyping of ApoAI and ApoB polymorphisms was carried out in 185 healthy Tamilian volunteers of south India after clinical examination. Lipid profile was estimated and polymorphisms were detected by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. The frequency of the rare M1-, M2- and R- alleles were 21%, 4.3% and 5.4%, respectively. An increase of 9.1 mg dL-1 (0.23 mmol L-1) in HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels was observed with M1-/- genotype when compared to M1+/+ genotype, which was not found after adjustments were made for confounding risk factors. A paradoxical increase in levels of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) was observed with M2+/- genotype when compared to M2+/+ genotype. Analysis of combination of genotypes of ApoAI revealed no influence on the lipid parameters. ApoB EcoRI in contrast to ApoAI polymorphisms had no significant effect on lipid profile..