Objective: To search the variation of apoA IV gene and its relation to endogenous hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) in Chinese population.
Methods: Forty- seven endogenous hypertriglyceridemics and 48 healthy subjects from a population of Chinese Han nationality in Chengdu area were studied using sequencing of apoA IV gene amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Results: The frequency of (CTGT)(3) allele in Chinese control group was significantly different from that reported in German Caucasians (0.253 vs 0.607, P<0.01) and in Italian Caucasians (0.253 vs 0.522, P<0.01), but not different from that reported in Japanese (0.253 vs 0.262, P>0.05). The frequency of (CTGT)(3) allele showed no significant difference between normal control and HTG groups(0.223 vs 0.281,P>0.05). In the healthy control group, the subjects with genotype 3/3 of VNTR site had a higher serum mean concentration of LDLC as compared to those with genotype 3/4 (3.698 +/- 0.67 mmol/L vs 2.974 +/- 0.54 mmol/L, P<0.05).
Conclusion: The results suggest that VNTR polymorphism in apoA IV gene is associated with healthy control subjects to some extent in Chinese population.