Apolipoprotein E gene polymorphisms are associated with psoriasis but do not determine disease response to acitretin.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Psoriasis is associated with abnormal plasma lipid metabolism and a high frequency of cardiovascular events. Increased lipid levels are also seen in patients with psoriasis treated with acitretin. Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) variants have been linked to hypertriglyceridaemia and hypercholesterolaemia in normal individuals. Two coding single nucleotide polymorphisms at +3937 and +4075 define the three common ApoE alleles e2, e3 and e4.

OBJECTIVES:

To test the hypothesis that particular ApoE polymorphism(s) are associated with psoriasis and that specific ApoE allelic variant(s) may be a marker for predicting disease response to acitretin.

METHODS:

DNA was genotyped for ApoE polymorphisms using a radioactive hybridization technique in cohorts of patients with psoriasis, including patients with chronic plaque psoriasis (CPP, n = 212), guttate psoriasis (GP, n = 94), palmoplantar pustulosis (PPP, n = 101), controls (n = 137), acitretin responders (n =106) and acitretin nonresponders (n = 84).

RESULTS:

The frequency of the e4 allele (+3937C/+4075C) was significantly higher in patients with CPP and GP than in controls (P = 0.008 and P = 0.02, respectively). There was no significant difference in allele frequencies between patients with PPP and controls. Allelic distribution was similar in acitretin responders and nonresponders.

CONCLUSIONS:

These data demonstrate an association between the Apo e4 allele and CPP and GP, suggesting a possible pathogenic role for ApoE in psoriasis. Our results do not support a link between disease response to acitretin and the e2, e3 or e4 allelic variants of ApoE.

• Authors: E Campalani, M H Allen, D Fairhurst, H S Young, C O Mendonca, A D Burden, C E M Griffiths, M A Crook, J N W N Barker, C H Smith
• Journal: The British journal of dermatology (Br J Dermatol) Vol. 154 Issue 2 Pg. 345-52 (Feb 2006) ISSN: 0007-0963 [Print] England
• PMID: 16433808 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Apolipoprotein E4
• Apolipoproteins E
• Genetic Markers
• Keratolytic Agents
• Acitretin

Topics

• Acitretin (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Apolipoprotein E4
• Apolipoproteins E (genetics)
• Child
• Female
• Genetic Markers
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease
• Genotype
• Humans
• Hypertriglyceridemia (chemically induced, genetics)
• Keratolytic Agents (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Polymerase Chain Reaction (methods)
• Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
• Psoriasis (drug therapy, genetics)
• Sequence Analysis, DNA
• Treatment Outcome