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Published on: November 3, 2016
Decreased plasma C-reactive protein levels in APOE ε4 allele carriers
Henna Martiskainen1, Mari Takalo2, Alina Solomon3,4
1Institute of Clinical Medicine Internal Medicine University of Eastern Finland P.O. Box 1627 Kuopio 70211 Finland.
Objective:
Apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele is a well-established risk factor in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we assessed the effects of APOE polymorphism on cardiovascular, metabolic, and inflammation-related parameters in population-based cohorts.
Methods:
Association of cardiovascular, metabolic, and inflammation-related parameters with the APOE polymorphism in a large Finnish Metabolic Syndrome in Men (METSIM) cohort and Finnish Geriatric Intervention study to prevent cognitive impairment and disability (FINGER) were investigated. Brain-specific effects were addressed in postmortem brain samples.
Results:
Individuals carrying the APOE ε4 allele displayed significantly elevated serum/plasma LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B levels. APOE ε3ε4 and ε4ε4 significantly associated with lower levels of plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Plasma amyloid-β 42 (Aβ42) and reduced hs-CRP levels showed an association independently of the APOE status.
Interpretation:
These data suggest that the APOE ε4 allele associates with lower levels of hs-CRP in individuals without dementia. Moreover, Aβ42 may encompass anti-inflammatory effects reflected by reduced hs-CRP levels.
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