J Korean Diabetes Assoc.  1999 Apr;23(2):182-192.

The Relationship between Apolipoprotein E Phenotypes, Serum Lipid Metabolism, and Oxidative Stress in Korean Type 2 Diabetic Patients

• Choi SB
• Park SM

Abstract

BACKGROUND:The cause of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is not known, but one of the causes may be the reduction of insulin secretion through the fibrosis formed with amyloid deposits in pancreatic beta cells. Amyloidogenesis in hippocampus is a characteristic feature in Alzheimers disease. Possession of the Apolipoprotein (Apo) E 4 allele (E4/2, FA/3 or E4/4) is a risk factor for the development of Alzheimers disease. However, it is controversial that Apo E polymophsim is associated with the etiopathology of type 2 DM. Both Alzheimers disease and type 2 DM has increased oxidative stress, which may be related to the formation of fibrosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution of Apo E phenotypes in type 2 diabetic subjects and healthy subjects, and to determine whether Apo E phenotypes influenced serum lipid profiles and glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities of red blood cells in type 2 DM and healthy subjects.
METHODS
Overnight fasting blood was collected from 84 type 2 diabetic patients and 85 healthy subjects. Apo E phenotypes was determined by the isoelectrofocusing method. Serum lipid profiles and supetoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activ'ities of red blood cells (RBC) were measured.
RESULTS
The frequency of Apo E 4 in the type 2 DM was higher than that in the control group (p<0,05). The serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels of the type 2 DM were overall higher than in healthy subjects. Serum lipid profiles were not affected by Apo E phenotypes in healthy subjects. However, semm total cholesterol levels of type 2 diab diabetic patients with Apo E3/3 were signifcantly lower than those with Apo FA/3 (p<0.05), but serum HDL, cholesterol levels had an opposite tendency. Serum triglyceride levels of type 2 diabetic patients with Apo E3/2 were higher than those with Apo E4/3 (p<0.05), RBC superoxide dismutase and gluta,thione peroxidase activities in type 2 diabetic patients tended to be lower than those in the control group. These enzyme activities of type 2 diabetic patieints with Apo E3 were lowest among the Apo E phenotype groups (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
This result suggests that type 2 diabctic patients had more Apo E 4 allele than in healthy people. Antioxidant enzyme activities decrqased in type 2 diabetic patients with Apo E 4 allele. Serum lipid profiles of type 2 diabetic patients with Apo E 4 allele was an increased risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Keyword

Apolipoprotein E phenotypes; Type 2 diabetes mellitus; Superoxide dismutase; Glutathione peroxidase; Serum lipid profiles

MeSH Terms

Alleles
Apolipoprotein E3
Apolipoprotein E4
Apolipoproteins E
Apolipoproteins*
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cholesterol
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2
Erythrocytes
Fasting
Fibrosis
Glutathione Peroxidase
Hippocampus
Humans
Insulin
Insulin-Secreting Cells
Lipid Metabolism*
Oxidative Stress*
Peroxidase
Phenotype*
Plaque, Amyloid
Risk Factors
Superoxide Dismutase
Triglycerides
Apolipoprotein E3
Apolipoprotein E4
Apolipoproteins
Apolipoproteins E
Cholesterol
Glutathione Peroxidase
Insulin
Peroxidase
Superoxide Dismutase