Apolipoprotein E Gene Polymorphisms in Essential Hypertension: A Preliminary Study with Meta-analysis
- Author:
Wisam NI
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Apolipoprotein E, essential hypertension, single nucleotide gene polymorphism.
- From:
The International Medical Journal Malaysia
2015;14(2):45-52
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Essential hypertension is a multifactorial disease. Many experimental studies have elucidated
the role of oxidative stress and atherosclerosis in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension. Apolipoprotein
E is a plasma protein that is found to have antioxidant properties, and it also protects against atherosclerosis.
Interestingly, the biological function of apolipoprotein E is strongly affected by polymorphisms in its gene.
Based on this evidence, our aim was to investigate the association of apolipoprotein E gene polymorphisms with
essential hypertension. Methods: This study was conducted on 70 hypertensive patients and 73 control
participants recruited from the Balok governmental health clinic in Kuantan, Pahang. The polymerase chain
reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism assay (PCR-RFLP) was used for determination of the
apolipoprotein E genotype. Our results were also verified later by direct sequencing of the amplicons.
Results: There was no significant association of apolipoprotein E allele or genotype frequencies with hypertensive
disease or blood pressure levels, although the E4 allele was slightly more frequent in the hypertensive
patients than in the control group (OR=1.055; 0.471–2.359, CI 95%). To improve the precision of the study and
to settle the controversies among similar studies meta-analysis was performed; however it revealed a net nonsignificant
association between the apolipoprotein E4 allele with essential hypertension in the combined
population. Conclusion: Our data and the meta-analysis findings provide evidence that apolipoprotein E gene
polymorphism has no direct significant association with hypertension.
