Apolipoprotein isoform E4 does not increase coronary heart disease risk in carriers of low-density lipoprotein receptor mutations.

BACKGROUND

In humans, the E4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene is associated with increased coronary heart disease risk. Surprisingly, in rodents, apolipoprotein E4 only accelerates the atherosclerotic process when transgenic for the human low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) protein. We therefore investigated whether the LDLR locus interacted with the apolipoprotein E gene genotype on coronary heart disease risk in patients clinically diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia with and without LDLR mutation. We investigated whether the presence of an LDLR mutation diminishing LDLR function was protective in E4/E4 carriers.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In a cohort of 2400 patients clinically diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia, we found an LDLR gene mutation in 1383 patients, whereas in 1013 patients, such mutation was not present. In 92 patients homozygous for the apolipoprotein E4, the presence of an LDLR mutation conferred lower coronary heart disease risk (hazard ratio, 0.16; 95% CI, 0.05-0.58; P=0.005). Mirroring these results, the apolipoprotein E4/E4 genotype was also associated with lower coronary heart disease risk in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia with an LDLR mutation (hazard ratio, 0.26; hazard ratio, 0.08-0.80; P=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

LDLR function is key to the detrimental effects of apolipoprotein E4 in humans. Kinetic studies in humans are now required to study the consequences of our observation for prevention of both coronary heart disease and Alzheimer disease.