Association of APOE Gene Polymorphisms with Cerebral Infarction in the Chinese Population

BACKGROUND: Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is a multifunctional protein that plays an important role in lipoprotein metabolism. However, the relationship between APOE gene polymorphisms and cerebral infarction in the Chinese population remains unclear. Therefore, we studied the role of APOE gene polymorphisms in patients with cerebral infarction in a Chinese population. MATERIAL/METHODS: This study involved 906 patients with cerebral infarction and 1,141 individuals without cerebral infarction who served as controls. APOE genotypes were identified in all participants who participated in the study. Factors influencing cerebral infarction were also analyzed. RESULTS: Statistically significant variances in the distribution and frequencies of the APOE genotypes in the patients were observed (ɛ2/ɛ3 versus ɛ2/ɛ4 versus ɛ3/ɛ3=22.85% versus 7.62% versus 56.95%) and controls (ɛ2/ɛ3 versus ɛ2/ɛ4 versus ɛ3/ɛ3=17.27% versus 2.72% versus 66.87%; p<0.001). Univariate analysis showed that the APOE ɛ3/ɛ3 genotype [OR, 0.393 (95% CI, 0.237–0.653); p<0.001] and ɛ3/ɛ4 genotype [OR, 0.376 (95% CI 0.221–0.637); p<0.001] played a protective role against cerebral infarction in Chinese men. CONCLUSIONS: Statistically significant variances in the distribution and frequencies of the APOE genotypes of the patients and controls were observed. The study demonstrated that the APOE ɛ3/ɛ3 and ɛ3/ɛ4 genotypes played a protective role against cerebral infarction in Chinese men, but not women. Additionally, the ɛ2/ɛ4 genotype may be a potential risk factor in men, whereas ɛ3/ɛ4 genotype may play a potential protective role against this disease in women.