GENETIC-POLYMORPHISM OF APOLIPOPROTEIN-E IN CAUCASIAN ALCOHOLIC CIRRHOTICS

Steatosis is the most common although inconstant hepatic lesion induce d by chronic alcohol consumption. Alcoholic cirrhosis is found in only 20 to 30% of chronic alcohol misusers, which points to the influence of both environmental and genetic factors. Apolipoprotein E (ape E) pr esents an important polymorphism with three common alleles, epsilon 4, epsilon 3 and epsilon 2. Its modulation role on triglyceride rich lip oproteins and cholesterol-containing lipoproteins is linked with its i nteraction with cellular specific receptors. This work aims at studyin g a possible correlation between apo E polymorphism and alcoholic cirr hosis. The three common alleles were identified by enzymatic amplifica tion (PCR) of genomic DNA from blood samples and analysis of restricti on profiles. The distribution of alleles and genotypes was performed i n 35 Caucasian cirrhotic patients (medium age 57 years) and compared w ith the usual distribution of apo E phenotypes in European Caucasian p opulations. The results show lower epsilon 4 and epsilon 2 allele freq uencies and higher epsilon 3 allele frequency in Caucasian alcoholic c irrhotics.