• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.312-318
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• 2006

The association between apolipoprotein E (apoE) gene polymorphism and ischemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD) has been controversial. These controversies may be due to inaccurate classification of patients and ethnic differences. The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between apoE gene polymorphism and the development of ICVD in a population from Korea. We investigated 136 patients with ICVD and 357 controls without ICVD. No differences in the apoE genotypes frequencies ($X^{2}$ = 3.660, df = 5, P = 0.454) and even in the alleles frequencies ($X^{2}$ = 1.946, df = 2, P = 0.378) were observed in the ICVD patients compared with that in controls. The data have been compared with data found in other population groups. However, the risk of ICVD associated with apoE ${\varepsilon}3/{\varepsilon}4$ genotype was increased nearly 3-fold in subjects possessing the history of diabetes mellitus (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.2-9.4, P = 0.026). We concluded that the apoE polymorphism is not associated with ICVD at least in the Korean population, but the apoE frequencies found in this study differ significantly from those obtained in Japanese.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.213-221
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• 2010

Objectives: Plasma lipid profiles and Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) are established risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The knowledge of lipid profile may estimate the potential victims of cardiovascular disease before its initiation and progression and offers the opportunity for primary prevention. The most common ApoE polymorphism has been found to influence plasma lipid concentrations and its correlation with CVD has been extensively investigated in the last decade. Methods: The ApoE polymorphism and its influence on plasma lipid were investigated in healthy woman workers. The information on confounding factors was obtained through a self-administered questionnaire and ApoE polymorphism was investigated using PCR. Results: The relative frequencies of alleles E2, E3 and E4 for the study population (n = 305) were 0.127, 0.750 and 0.121, respectively. ApoE polymorphism was associated with variations in plasma HDL-cholesterol lipid profile. In order to estimate the independent effects of alleles E2 and E4, as compared with E3, on lipid profile, multiple regression was performed after adjustment for confounding variables such as age, BMI, blood pressure, education status, insulin, fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, menopause. ApoE2 had a negative association with HDL cholesterol and ApoE4 had a positive association with LDL cholesterol. Conclusions: This study identified that the ApoE and CVD risk factors contribute to the lipid profiles, similar to other studies. The analysis including dietary intake and other gene in further studies may help to identify clear effects on lipid profiles as risk factor for CVD.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1024-1030
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• 2007

We investigated the human apolipoprotein E2 (apoE2) transgenic mouse as an animal model system for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Transgenic mice expressing human apoE2 and C57BL/6J mice were fed normal chow or a high-fat diet for 4 weeks. Eyes were collected from the mice and lipid deposits in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) were assessed using electron microscopy. The expressions of apoE, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and pigment-epithelium derived factor (PEDF), which are molecular markers for angiogenesis, were assessed with immunohistochemistry. Eyes from apoE2 mice, regardless of diet, contained lipid accumulation in RPE under electron microscopy, whereas control C57BL/6J eyes did not. Lipid accumulation was found predominantly in the RPE and the Bruch's membrane and increased in the eyes of apoE2 mice after one month of a high-fat diet ($8{\pm}2\;per\;50{\mu}m^2$ for normal chow and $11{\pm}2\;per\;50\;{\mu}m^2,\;p<0.05)$. ApoE expression was similar in the apoE2 and control mice; however, VEGF and bFGF were overexpressed in the retinal pigment epithelium of apoE2 eyes compared with control eyes, and PEDF expression was slightly decreased. These expression patterns of VEGF, bFGF, and PEDF suggest angiogenesis is progressing in apoE2 eyes. In conclusion, the eyes of apoE2 mice develop typical lipid accumulations, a common characteristic of AMD, making them a suitable animal model for AMD. The expression profile of VEGF and bFGF on the retinal pigment epithelium suggests that apoE2 may induce neovascularization by altering angiogenic cytokines.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.102-112
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• 2003

The homozygous deletion allele of the angiotensin converting enzyme gene (ACF/DD), homozygous threonine allele of the angiotensinogen gene (AGN/TT), and the 4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene (apoE/4) are reported to be associated with ischemic heart disease. Ischemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD) is another atherosclerotic disease, and the effects of these polymorphisms on ICVD have been confusing. In this study, I investigated whether ACF/DD, AGN/TT, and apoE/4 genotypes are associated with ICVD and whether genetic risk is enhanced by the effect of one upon another. I ascertained these genotypes in patients with ICVD (n=121) diagnosed by brain computed tomography. Control subjects for the ICVD were randomly selected from subjects matched for age, gender, and history of hypertension with patients. Frequency of ACF/DD genotype was somewhat higher in the patients with ICVD than in the controls (18％ vs. 15％). Incidence of ICVD was higher in subjects with the apoE/4/4 genotype than in the other genotypes (50％ vs. 27-29％). Incidence of ICVD was much higher in subjects with the AGN/TT genotype than in AGN/MM genotype (36％ vs. 17％). Furthermore, the AGN/TT genotype greatly increased the relative risk for ICVD in the subjects with ACF/DD genotype (80.0％ vs. 20.0％, P=0.089). Finally, incidence of ICVD was much higher in the subjects with both apoE/2/4 and AGN/TT genotype than in the other genotypes (83.3％ vs. 16.7％, P=O.095). These results suggest that AGN/TT enhances the risk for ICVD associated with ACF/DD and apoE/2/4.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.1099-1112
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Dyslipidemia causes metabolic disorders such as atherosclerosis and fatty liver syndrome due to abnormally high blood lipids. Purple perilla frutescens extract (PPE) possesses various bioactive compounds such as α-asarone, chlorogenic acid and rosmarinic acid. This study examined whether PPE and α-asarone improved dyslipidemia-associated inflammation and inhibited atheroma formation in apolipoprotein E (apoE)-deficient mice, an experimental animal model of atherosclerosis. MATERIALS/METHODS: ApoE-deficient mice were fed on high cholesterol-diet (Paigen's diet) and orally administrated with 10-20 mg/kg PPE and α-asarone for 10 wk. RESULTS: The Paigen's diet reduced body weight gain in apoE-deficient mice, which was not restored by PPE or α-asarone. PPE or α-asarone improved the plasma lipid profiles in Paigen's diet-fed apoE-deficient mice, and despite a small increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol, and very LDL were significantly reduced. Paigen's diet-induced systemic inflammation was reduced in PPE or α-asarone-treated apoE-deficient mice. Supplying PPE or α-asarone to mice lacking apoE suppressed aorta atherogenesis induced by atherogenic diet. PPE or α-asarone diminished aorta accumulation of CD68- and/or F4/80-positive macrophages induced by atherogenic diet in apoE-deficient mice. Treatment of apoE-deficient mice with PPE and α-asarone resulted in a significant decrease in plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein level and an increase in lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase reduced by supply of Paigen's diet. Supplementation of PPE and α-asarone enhanced the transcription of hepatic apoA1 and SR-B1 reduced by Paigen's diet in apoE-deficient mice. CONCLUSIONS: α-Asarone in PPE inhibited inflammation-associated atheroma formation and promoted hepatic HDL-C trafficking in dyslipidemic mice.

• BMB Reports
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.565-571
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• 1998

The expression of the endogenous human apolipoprotein(apo)E gene was significantly induced when HepG2 cells were treated with exogenous 25-hydroxy-cholesterol. This sterol-mediated apoE gene upregulation appears to require the participation of a positive element for the apoE gene transcription (PET) ( -169/ -140), a core sequence of upstream regulatory element (URE)1 enhancer of the human apoE gene. This PET was renamed as sterol regulatory element (SRE)4 based on its new role as a sensor for the level of intracellular sterol. Furthermore, a gel mobility shift analysis showed that binding activity of the SRE4 binding protein (BP) obtained from HepG2 cells was induced by sterol treatment, while that from either MCF7 or BT20 cells remained unchanged. Binding activity of SRE4BP was also induced in mouse macrophage cells, J774A.1, by sterol treatment, but it was drastically reduced when cells were subjected to treatment of AY-9944, a potent inhibitor for sterol synthesis. However, binding activity of Spl, which is a co-binding protein to the SRE4 region, remained the same in either condition, suggesting that SRE4BP (formally known as PETBP) may be mainly responsible for the sterol-mediated regulation of the apoE gene expression. Deletion analysis of the core binding site of SRE4BP by gel mobility shift assays showed that the minimal sequence of the SRE4BP binding appears to reside between -157 and -140, confirming the identity of SRE4 with the previously determined core sequence of URE1.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.397-401
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• 2013

The Galkun-Whanglyeon-Whanggum-Tang, an officially standardized mixture of traditional herbal medicines used in Korea and China, consists of Pueraria lobata, Scullellaria baicalensis, Coptis chinensis and Glycyrrhiza uralensis at a ratio of 6:9:3:2.4. In this study, we evaluated the effect of lowering lipid accumulation in blood by treatment of Galkun-Whanglyeon-Whanggum-Tang in Apo E(-/-) atherosclerotic animal model. ApoE/mice fed with 1.25% cholesterol, 7.5% cocoa butter and 0.5% sodium cholate diet were orally given vehicle or Galkun-Whanglyeon-Whanggum-Tang(10, 100 and 300 mg/kg/day) for 12 weeks. Serum levels of triglyceride(TG), total cholestrerol(TC), low-density lipoprotein(LDL) and high-density lipoprotein(HDL) were analyzed, and PPAR-${\alpha}$ and PPAR-${\gamma}$ were examined by Western blotting analysis. Galkun-Whanglyeon- Whanggum-Tang decreased serum levels of TG, TC and LDL, but not HDL in ApoE/mice. In parallel, Galkun-Whanglyeon-Whanggum-Tang treatment showed the increased activity of PPAR-${\alpha}$ and PPAR-${\gamma}$ in hepatocytes. In summary, Galkun-Whanglyeon-Whanggum-Tang can reduce lipid accumulation in blood, and this effect might be accompanied by the upregulation of PPAR-${\alpha}$ and PPAR-${\gamma}$ in Apo E(-/-) atherosclerotic mouse model.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.515-517
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• 1996

The relative efficiencies of deposition into egg yolk of apo-carotenoic acid ester(APO-E, CAROPHYLL Yellow) and saponified marigold xanthophylls (MX), in the presence of canthaxanthin (CN), were determined using a wheat-based diet. APO-E was deposited with an efficiency of 50 percent and MX with an efficiency between 13 and 20 percent. The dose response relationship for MX was curvilinear with a decreased efficiency at higher concentrations. Canthaxanthin was deposited with and efficiency of 38 percent, irrespective of the source of yellow xanthophylls, up to a dietary concentration of 5.5 mg/kg. At a dietary MX concentration of 8.3 mg/kg the efficiency of deposition of CN declined to 24 percent. The results confirm that the replacement ratio of MX : APO-E is between 3 : 1 and 4 : 1 depending on the dietary inclusion of marigold pigment.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.25-33
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• 2003

lridology, a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), is the diagnosis of medical conditions through noting irregularities of the pigmentation in the iris. lridological constitution has a strong familial aggregation and is implicated in heredity. Apolipoprotein E (apoE) gene polymorphism is one of the most well studied genetic markers of vascular disease. I investigated the relationship between iridological constitution and apoE polymorphism. I classified 87 hypertensive patients with family history of cerebral infarction and 79 controls according to iris constitution, and determined apoE genotype. Neurogenic type in hypertensives was 32.2% compared with 16.5% in controls (P<0.001). No differences in the apoE genotypes frequencies were observed in patients compared with those in controls ($x^2=0.726$, df-=2, P=0.696). However, in a population with ${\varepsilon}3/{\varepsilon}4$ genotype, the frequency of neurogenic constitution was significantly higher in hypertensives than in controls (60% vs. 0%) ($x^2=5.265$, df=l, P=0.022). These results could imply that apoE ${\varepsilon}3/{\varepsilon}4$ genotype and neurogenic iris constitution are risk factors for hypertension.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.40 no.7
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• pp.593-600
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• 2007

Recent studies described the ${\varepsilon}4$ allele of apoE confers a two-to fourfold increased risk for late-onset Alzheimer#s disease (LOAD), but LOAD pathology does not all fit neatly around apo E. Therefore, the goal of this study was to find the association between Alzheimer and apo E4 genotype in the 107 elderly between 50 to 64 years old who visited to FHWC of Sungshin Women#s University. We conducted the questionnaire survey (general & 24 hr dietary recall), anthropometerics (BP, waist & BMI) and blood biochemistry (FBS & lipid profiles). LDL-c and HOMA-IR were calculated by Friedwald#s and Matthew#s formulas. The apo E genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP method and subjects were divided into three allele groups (${\varepsilon}3$; wild, ${\varepsilon}2$ & ${\varepsilon}4;$ mutants). The apo E allele frequencies were 7.0% for the ${\varepsilon}2$, 83.6% for the ${\varepsilon}3$ and 9.3% for the ${\varepsilon}4$. In comparison with biochemistry characteristics by apo E genotype, FBS was significantly higher in ${\varepsilon}4(129.2{\pm}6.8)$ than that in the others (${\varepsilon}2$: $117{\pm}7.4$, ${\varepsilon}3$: $107.3{\pm}2.2)$ (p<0.01). More than forty percents of ${\varepsilon}4$ group shown the dyslipidemia [high TG (>150mg/dl) & low HDL (<40 mg/dl:male or <50 mg/dl: female)]. The cytokines levels such as IL-1 ${\beta}$, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ were not different among three apoE alleles. After the adjusting sex, age & dietary fiber, LDL-c level was siginificantly higher in ${\varepsilon}4$ ($108.3{\pm}7.7$) than that in ${\varepsilon}2$ ($100.4{\pm}8.4$) (p<0.05). According to food intake and the recipe on the basis of 24 hr dietary recall, the elder]y with ${\varepsilon}4$ allele took higher intake frequency of the light -colored vegetable (radish, onion & cabbage) and pan-fried foods (sauteed beef and vegetables, stir-fried vienna with vegetables) than the others. We knew that the elderly with ${\varepsilon}4$ allele had been restricted the calories intakes with high dietary fiber (33.6+2.5 g/d) to maintain the normal level of FBS and LDL-c. On next study, the prevalence of Alzheimer#s disease in this population who has ${\varepsilon}4$ allele on the condition of calories restriction will be continually follow-up.