The association of apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene polymorphisms with atherosclerosis susceptibility: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Background: The aim of the present meta-analysis was to evaluate the association of apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene polymorphism with atherosclerosis risk.

Methods: Electronic databases (PubMed, Embase and Springer link) were used to search for relevant articles addressing on the association of APOE gene polymorphism with atherosclerosis. Meta-analysis was performed for 7 genotype models: ε2/ε2 vs. ε3/ε3, ε2/ε3 vs. ε3/ε3, ε2/ε4 vs. ε3/ε3, ε3/ε4 vs. ε3/ε3, ε4/ε4 vs. ε3/ε3, ε2 vs. ε3, and ε4 vs. ε3. The pooled odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were used to assess relationship between alleles, as well as genotypes and susceptibility of atherosclerosis. Subgroup analysis was performed based on ethnicities and clinical phenotypes of atherosclerosis (clinical and subclinical atherosclerosis). Sensitivity analysis was performed to check the effects of one study on other studies.

Results: The overall analysis and subgroup analysis based on ethnicities showed no significant correlation between APOE polymorphisms and the susceptibility of atherosclerosis. However, subgroup analysis based on clinical phenotypes of atherosclerosis showed that, compared with APOE3 gene, APOE4 gene carriers were prone to clinical atherosclerosis incidence. Sensitive analysis did not change the overall effect in this study.

Conclusions: This meta-analysis demonstrates that there is no significant association between APOE polymorphism (APOE2, APOE3) and the susceptibility of atherosclerosis, while APOE4 gene may be a risk factor for the clinical atherosclerosis. However, further studies based on larger sample sizes are still needed.