出版社：American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
摘要：The genetic variability of apolipoprotein E (apoE) influencesplasma lipoprotein levels, and allele frequencies differ betweenAfrican Americans and Caucasians. As African Americans havehigher lipoprotein [a] (Lp[a]) levels than Caucasians, we investigatedthe effects of the apoE gene on allele-specific apolipoprotein[a] (apo[a]) levels across ethnicity. We determined apo[a] sizes,allele-specific apo[a] levels (i.e., levels associated withalleles defined by size), and the apoE gene polymorphism in231 African Americans and 336 Caucasians. African Americans,but not Caucasians, with the apo E2 genotype had lower levelsof Lp[a] compared with those with the apo E4 genotype (9.6 vs.11.2 nmol/l; P = 0.034, expressed as square root levels). Distributionof apo[a] alleles across apoE genotypes were similar betweenAfrican Americans and Caucasians. Among African Americans withlarge apo[a], the allele-specific apo[a] level was significantlylower among 2 carriers compared with 3 or 4 carriers (5.4 vs.6.6 and 7.4 nmol/l, respectively; P < 0.005, expressed assquare root levels). In contrast, there was no significant differencein allele-specific apo[a] levels across apoE genotypes amongCaucasians. For large apo[a] sizes, apoE genotype contributedto the observed African American-Caucasian differences in allele-specificapo[a] levels.Supplementary key words lipoprotein [a] • polymorphisms • apolipoprotein E • genetics • ethnicity • apolipoprotein [a]
2 carriers compared with 
