Apolipoprotein E Polymorphism Status with Neurological Diseases in North Indian Population

Abstract

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotypes are associated with pathogenesis of various neurological diseases. This study was designed to explore the association of ApoE polymorphism with risk of various neurological diseases- Alzheimer’s disease (AD), non-AD dementia, Parkinson’s disease (PD), stroke, Multiple sclerosis (MS) and Wilson’s diseases (WD).

A cross-sectional study was performed on 113 non diseased and 350 diseased subjects (AD, PD & stroke) from Institute of Human Behavior & Allied Sciences (IHBAS), New Delhi (India). ApoE genotyping was done in all subjects by ARMS-PCR method.

In AD, non-AD dementia, PD, stroke, MS and WD groups, 103 subjects, 43, 36, 112, 24 and 32 subjects were included respectively in the study, whereas non-diseased group had 113 subjects. Average age in diseased and non diseased groups was 61.27 years (SD= 14.07) and 57.45 years (SD= 14.25) respectively. On genetic analysis for ApoE, ε3/3 was found to be the most predominant genotype in both groups. In association study ε4 allele was identified as a risk factor in all neurological diseases. Specifically, ε4 was a significant risk factor in AD with 2.5 times increased risk (COR: 2.73, CI: 1.32 – 5.65). However, ApoEε2 emerged as a protective factor in AD, but a risk factor in non-AD dementia, PD and stroke (COR: 2.10, CI: 0.93 – 4.76).

ε4 allele has been found strongly associated with Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, whereas ε2 emerged out as a risk factor for stroke, non-AD dementia and PD.