Apolipoprotein (apo) E polymorphism was examined in a population of Italian blood donors. A significantly reduced frequency of the epsilon 4 allele was observed in comparison to a combined Caucasian population. Apo E polymorphism was also associated with significant differences in plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels. Notably, total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol as well as triglyceride...

This review examines the association between the apolipoprotein (apo) var epsilon gene polymorphism (or its protein product (apo E)), metabolic regulation of cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease. The apo var epsilon gene is located at chromosome 19q13.2. Among the variants of this gene, alleles (*) epsilon2, (*) epsilon3, and (*) epsilon4 constitute the common polymorphism found in most popu...

The plasma appearance of newly synthesized cholesterol in anhepatic laboratory diet-fed rats was 10% of the intact rat. In intact rats this cholesterol was mainly ester in lower density lipoproteins, but for anhepatic rats it was virtually only free in high density lipoprotein. Chylomicron cholesterol ester was removed much more slowly from anhepatic than control plasma and returned primarily a...

The present study examined the effects of Se, vitamin E and combined Se and vitamin E deficiencies in rats on plasma lipid, lipoprotein and apolipoprotein (apo) concentrations. Deficiencies were induced by feeding rats the respective diets for 6 weeks. The study shows that Se deficiency results in increased concentrations of plasma cholesterol and apo E. Both could be explained by an increase i...

In normal subjects, apolipoprotein E (apo E) is present on very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) (fraction I) and on particles of a size intermediate between VLDL and low density lipoproteins (LDL) (fraction II). The major portion of apo E is, however, on particles smaller than LDL but larger than the average high density lipoproteins (HDL) (fraction III). To investigate the possible role of the...

Brown and Goldstein described the classical pathway of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) catabolism in human fibroblasts, initiated by LDL-binding to the LDL receptor (LDLR) and followed by endocytosis and lysosomal catabolism of its components.1 The initial steps in the hepatic catabolism of chylomicron remnants and large very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) remnants have turned out to be more comp...

BACKGROUND The "Western" diet, sex, and apolipoprotein (Apo) E polymorphism have been implicated as codeterminants of lipid levels. METHODS AND RESULTS In a retrospective analysis, we evaluated the combined impact of dietary fat, sex, and Apo E phenotype on lipoprotein levels in 67 subjects fed two contrasting, metabolically controlled diets: one a "Western" diet, with a low polyunsaturated t...

The hypertriglyceridemia associated with streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats is largely reflected in the plasma lipoproteins of density less than 1.006 g/ml. Analysis of the plasma apolipoproteins of these rats indicated marked alterations in both the total levels and in the lipoprotein distribution of the major apolipoproteins. In whole plasma, diabetes was associated with significant incr...

AIM To present the clinical, dermatological, and histological features of a patient with generalised xanthomatosis, familial apolipoprotein (apo) E deficiency, and unusual type III hyperlipoproteinaemia (HLP). METHODS The underlying molecular defect was disclosed using molecular biological techniques. The unusual xanthomas were histologically analysed and the morphology of the abnormal lipopr...

BACKGROUND Differences in serum lipid distribution and mortality from ischaemic heart disease have repeatedly been reported between Belgian northerners and southerners. We investigated whether serum lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) and apolipoprotein (apo) E polymorphism were involved. METHODS Fasting serum lipids, apo A-I and B, and Lp(a) levels were examined in randomly selected, 20-39 year old Belgi...