Apolipoprotein H genetic variability in the population of Krk Island, Croatia

Hum Biol. 2002 Aug;74(4):545-54. doi: 10.1353/hub.2002.0049.

Abstract

Apolipoprotein polymorphisms are emerging as suitable markers for the study of the formation of human populations. In contrast to the data available for apolipoprotein E, the data regarding apolipoprotein H (protein, apoH; gene, APOH) variations are only beginning to accumulate. By blood plasma isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting, we analyzed the distribution of apoH phenotypes in 397 individuals (192 males; 205 females) from seven villages of an autochthonous population of the eastern Adriatic island of Krk. APOH allele frequencies were: APOH*2 = 0.877, APOH*3 = 0.098, APOH*1 = 0.025, with the majority of the sample being homozygous. No significant differences between villages were observed. When these data were compared to those of other populations studied so far, a significant association between APOH allele frequencies and latitude was observed. We hypothesize that this association reflects differences in diet composition across different climatic zones.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alleles
  • Croatia
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Glycoproteins / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Isoelectric Focusing
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Phenotype
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Rural Population
  • beta 2-Glycoprotein I

Substances

  • Glycoproteins
  • beta 2-Glycoprotein I