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Lipoprotein(a) phenotypes in Japanese children: a cohort study
O Arisaka1, S Fujiwara, N Miyake
1Department of Pediatrics, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Insights
In Japanese children, double-band lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] phenotypes, linked to cardiovascular disease in adults, were more common. These findings suggest a potential increased risk for cardiovascular disease in children with these Lp(a) phenotypes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Disease Research
- Lipid Metabolism and Atherosclerosis
- Pediatric Health and Genetics
Background:
- Elevated serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is a known risk factor for premature atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
- The specific association between Lp(a) phenotypes and CVD development remains under-investigated, particularly in pediatric populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the population-based frequencies of serum Lp(a) phenotypes in Japanese children.
- To investigate the relationship between Lp(a) phenotypes and serum Lp(a) concentrations in this pediatric cohort.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of serum Lp(a) phenotypes in 269 Japanese children (aged 8-13 years) using apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] electrophoretic mobilities.
- Classification of Lp(a) into single-band (homozygotic) and double-band (heterozygotic) phenotypes.
- Comparison of serum Lp(a) concentrations between different phenotype groups.
Main Results:
- The serum Lp(a) concentration distribution was skewed towards lower levels (mean 15.5 mg/dl, median 11.0 mg/dl).
- Double-band Lp(a) phenotypes (55%) were more frequent than single-band phenotypes (44%).
- Subjects with double-band phenotypes exhibited significantly higher mean serum Lp(a) concentrations compared to single-band phenotypes (20.1 vs. 10.5 mg/dl, p < 0.01).
Conclusions:
- Predominant Lp(a) phenotypes in Japanese children differ from those observed in adults, with a higher prevalence of double-band phenotypes.
- The prevalent Lp(a) phenotypes in children are those associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk in adults.
- Children with these predominant Lp(a) phenotypes may face heightened susceptibility to cardiovascular disease in adulthood, though nutritional influences require consideration.
Background:
Elevated serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] concentrations have been demonstrated to be associated with cardiovascular diseases due to premature atherosclerosis. However, the association of Lp(a) phenotypes with the development of these diseases remains largely unexplored.
Methods:
We analyzed the population-based frequencies of serum Lp(a) phenotypes in 269 Japanese children aged 8-13 years in one community. According to the different apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] electrophoretic mobilities, Lp(a) was classified into seven single-band and respective double-band phenotypes. Each individual expressed a single (homozygotic) or a double band (heterozygotic).
Results:
The serum Lp(a) concentration frequency distribution was skewed toward lower levels with a mean +/- SD of 15.5 +/- 18.0 mg/dl and a median of 11.0 mg/dl. The Lp(a) phenotype frequencies revealed that the frequency of double-band phenotype expression (55%) was higher than that of single bands (44%) and that the frequency of phenotypes representative of low molecular weight apo(a) was very low (2%). The mean serum Lp(a) concentration of the double-band-expressing subjects was higher than that of subjects with the single-band phenotype (20.1 +/- 19.9 vs. 10.5 +/- 15.9 mg/dl, p < 0.01).
Conclusions:
These findings of Lp(a) phenotypes in children seemed to differ from those in Japanese adults in another study; contrary to expectation, the predominant Lp(a) phenotypes found in children were those frequently associated with cardiovascular diseases in adults. Thus, it is speculated that children whose Lp(a) phenotypes remain unchanged during the transition to adulthood may show an increased susceptibility to cardiovascular disease, although the nutritional effects on the Lp(a) phenotypes cannot be neglected.