A prevalence study of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter of the apolipoprotein E gene in different ethnic groups in Malaysia
- Author:
Raj Poovindran Anada
;
Dharmendra Ganesan
;
Nerimala Ramahsamay
;
Kum Thong Wong
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Neurology Asia
2012;17(4):341-346
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background and Objective: The promoter of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene is polymorphic at positions
-491A/T, -427C/T and -219G/T. These single nucleotide polymorphisms may alter transcriptional
activity and impact APOE expression due to differential binding of transcription factors. It has been
suggested that the -491 A, -427 C and -219 T alleles are associated with a high risk of developing
Alzheimer’s disease. This study aims to investigate the frequencies of APOE promoter polymorphisms
in three major ethnic groups (Malay, Chinese and Indian) in Malaysia. Method: DNA was extracted
from blood obtained from 290 healthy people (Malay: n= 92; Chinese: n= 105; and Indian: n= 93),
and the promoter region was amplifi ed using PCR and genotyped by direct sequencing. Result: The
Indian group has the lowest frequencies of - 491 A, - 427 C and - 219 T alleles (83.9%, 3.2% and
56.5%, respectively) compared to the Chinese group with the highest frequencies (97.1%, 11.9% and
67.1%, respectively). The frequencies in the Malay group were somewhere in between (94.6%, 8.2%
and 61.4%, respectively). Moreover, for the - 491 and - 427 positions, the frequencies of possible
genotypes viz., AA or AT or TT and CC or CT or TT, respectively, were statistically signifi cant (P <
0.05, Chi- Square Test) between the 3 ethnic groups.
Conclusion: Based on the frequency of APOE promoter polymorphisms alone, the ethnic Indian may
be predisposed to lower risks for AD than the Chinese or Malay.
- Full text:P020150710527628779696.pdf
