Apolipoprotein E polymorphism in the Greek population |
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| Authors: | Ekaterini Sklavounou Effrosini Economou-Petersen Georgia Karadima Marios Panas Dimitris Avramopoulos Angeliki Varsou Dimitris Vassilopoulos Michael B. Petersen |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Chemistry, University of Athens, Athens;Thalassemia Treatment Unit, Nikea Regional General Hospital, Nikea;Department of Genetics, Institute of Child Health, Athens;Department of Neurology, Eginition University Hospital, Athens, Greece |
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| Abstract: | The APOE gene is located on chromosome 19, and the three common alleles are designated ε2, ε3, and ε4. The ε4 allele is associated with increased plasma cholesterol, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, and decreased longevity. The objective of the present study was to estimate the distribution of APOE alleles in the Greek population by DNA analysis. The material consisted of 216 voluntary, healthy Greek blood donors (146 males/70 females). The APOE allele frequencies were ε2: 5.3%, ε3: 88.2%, ε4: 6.5%. The ε4 allele frequency of 6.5% in the Greek population is, together with the frequency in the Chinese population, among the lowest in the world. |
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| Keywords: | apolipoprotein E DNA polymorphism Greek population population genetics |
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