Cited by 129Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular HealthParaoxonase enzyme and polymorphismsGenetic Associations and Epidemiology

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 45 of the 45 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 7 of the 27 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

ApoE Plasma Levels and Risk of Cardiovascular Mortality in Old Age

Open access

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The epsilon2, epsilon3, and epsilon4 alleles of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) encode three isoforms, apoE2, E3, and E4, respectively. The apoE isoforms circulate in different plasma concentrations, but plasma concentrations of the same isoform also differ between individuals. Whereas the isoforms have been associated with cardiovascular disease, the relation between plasma apoE levels and cardiovascular disease is unknown. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We assessed APOE genotypes, plasma levels of apoE, cardiovascular risk factors, and mortality in a population-based sample of 546 individuals aged 85 y who participated in the Leiden 85-plus Study and were prospectively followed for specific causes of death for 5 y. Participants in the highest tertile of apoE levels suffered a twofold-increased risk of cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio compared to lowest tertile, 2.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30 to 3.33). Among the 324 participants with the epsilon3epsilon3 genotype, the hazard from cardiovascular disease was threefold increased (highest versus lowest tertile 3.01; 95% CI 1.60 to 5.66), with similar estimates for men and women. Other causes of death were not increased significantly. Plasma levels of apoE in epsilon3epsilon3 participants were positively correlated with total cholesterol (p < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.001) and triglycerides (p < 0.001) and negatively with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (p = 0.010). Adjustment for plasma lipids did not change the hazard ratios, whereas interaction was absent. The risk associated with high levels of apoE, however, was strongest in participants from the lowest tertile of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and absent in those from the highest tertile (p(interaction) < 0.001). Among participants from the lowest tertile of CRP levels, those with a high apoE levels had a significantly steeper increase in CRP than those with low apoE levels (p = 0.020). Similar cardiovascular mortality risks as in epsilon3epsilon3 participants were found in epsilon2 and epsilon4 carriers. CONCLUSIONS: In old age, high plasma apoE levels precede an increase of circulating CRP and strongly associates with cardiovascular mortality, independent of APOE genotype and plasma lipids.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

In a population-based cohort of 546 85-year-olds, high plasma apoE levels were associated with increased cardiovascular mortality, independent of APOE genotype and plasma lipids. High apoE also preceded rises in CRP, suggesting a proinflammatory pathway.

Key findings

  • In the total cohort, the highest apoE tertile had a 2.08-fold increased risk of cardiovascular mortality versus the lowest tertile (HR 2.08; 95% CI 1.30–3.33); intermediate levels had HR 1.74 (95% CI 1.09–2.79).
  • Among 324 participants with the ε3ε3 genotype, high apoE was associated with increased all-cause mortality (HR 2.05; 95% CI 1.39–3.02) and a threefold increased cardiovascular mortality risk (HR 3.01; 95% CI 1.60–5.66), with similar estimates in men (HR 2.89; 95% CI 1.13–7.36) and women (HR 2.96; 95% CI 1.27–6.90); other causes of death were not significantly increased.
  • In ε3ε3 participants, apoE levels correlated positively with total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides (all p < 0.001) and negatively with HDL cholesterol (p = 0.010); adjustment for lipids did not change the mortality estimate (HR 3.09; 95% CI 1.55–6.15), and further adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors gave HR 3.20 (95% CI 1.56–6.59).
  • The cardiovascular mortality risk associated with high apoE was strongest in the lowest CRP tertile and absent in the highest tertile (p interaction < 0.001); in the lowest CRP stratum, high baseline apoE was associated with a steeper increase in CRP during follow-up (p = 0.020). Similar cardiovascular mortality risks were found in ε2 and ε4 carriers, and in the entire cohort with APOE genotype accounted for, high apoE had HR 3.45 (95% CI 1.98–6.02).

Methods

  • Prospective population-based follow-up within the Leiden 85-plus Study: 705 inhabitants reached age 85, 599 participated, 561 provided blood samples, and 546 were analyzed; there were no selection criteria on health or demographic characteristics. Follow-up was until 1 April 2004, mean 4.2 y, during which 274 of 546 participants died.
  • APOE genotypes were determined with TaqMan assays; plasma apoE was measured by a human apoE-specific sandwich ELISA in stored baseline samples; total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and CRP were measured on automated analyzers, with LDL cholesterol estimated by the Friedewald equation; causes of death were classified by ICD-10 codes.
  • Mortality risks were estimated with Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for gender; baseline comparisons used sex-adjusted linear regression or linear mixed models, and prospective CRP analysis used a linear mixed model adjusting for gender.

Limitations

  • Stated by the paper: blood samples were not fasting, which could add random error; CRP was not measured with high-sensitivity methods; few participants were on lipid-lowering medication because of Dutch prescribing policy at enrollment; findings cannot be directly extrapolated to nonfatal cardiovascular disease or beyond this age group; participants were survivors of their birth cohort; and stored plasma shifts apoE between lipoproteins, while many participants had died, preventing subclass fractionation.
  • Evident from the observational cohort design: causality cannot be established, although the paper interprets high apoE as a possible causal factor; residual confounding cannot be excluded despite adjustment for lipids and other cardiovascular risk factors.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1371/journal.pmed.0030176

Cites

45 of 45 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Figures

Figure 1 Kaplan-Meier Mortality Curve for Tertiles of ApoE Levels Plasma apoE is indicated at high (red), intermediate (blue) and low (green) levels, showing that high plasma apoE levels associate with increased cardiovascular mortality. The p-value indicates the statistical significance of the association of plasma apoE level with cardiovascular mortality in a sex-adjusted Cox proportional hazards model.
Figure 1 Kaplan-Meier Mortality Curve for Tertiles of ApoE Levels Plasma apoE is indicated at high (red), intermediate (blue) and low (green) levels, showing that high plasma apoE levels associate with increased cardiovascular mortality. The p-value indicates the statistical significance of the association of plasma apoE level with cardiovascular mortality in a sex-adjusted Cox proportional hazards model.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 High versus Low Levels of Plasma ApoE High (red) and low (green) levels of the protein are depicted. Plasma apoE level was dichotomized on the median, showing that participants with high plasma apoE develop higher CRP levels during follow-up. Estimates of the geometric mean of circulating CRP levels for all years were calculated using a sex-adjusted linear mixed model. The p-value indicates the statistical significance of additional annual increases of CRP between high and low levels of apoE.
Figure 2 High versus Low Levels of Plasma ApoE High (red) and low (green) levels of the protein are depicted. Plasma apoE level was dichotomized on the median, showing that participants with high plasma apoE develop higher CRP levels during follow-up. Estimates of the geometric mean of circulating CRP levels for all years were calculated using a sex-adjusted linear mixed model. The p-value indicates the statistical significance of additional annual increases of CRP between high and low levels of apoE.CC BY · PubMed Central

Verification

Claims the paper makes

47 Own result · 13 Own interpretation · 10 No full text of the sources · 10 Own method · 3 Supported · 3 Partly supported · 3 No basis given · 1 Supported so far · accuracy not yet measured

  • Probably not a substantial claim. 21
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 29
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 2
42 of 42
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The relation between plasma apoE levels and cardiovascular disease risk has not been reported.

    “Whereas the isoforms have been associated with cardiovascular disease, the relation between plasma apoE levels and cardiovascular disease is unknown.”
    “Both lipids and inflammation are involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, but the relation of plasma apoE levels and cardiovascular disease risk has not yet been reported.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    High plasma levels of apoE in combination with increased lipid-antigen presentation lead to chronic inflammation and thus may contribute to atherosclerosis.

    “In this model, high plasma levels of apoE in combination with increased lipid-antigen presentation lead to chronic inflammation and thus may contribute to atherosclerosis.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    ApoE has a pleiotropic effect, with different pathways neutralizing endogenous and exogenous stimuli.

    “It is logical to assume such a pleiotropic effect, since genes regulating the inflammatory host response are under balanced evolutionary selection pressure.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The concomitant inflammatory response adequately eliminates the lipid antigen from the circulation.

    “The concomitant inflammatory response adequately eliminates the lipid antigen from the circulation.”
4 of 4

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Self-check

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1 of 1

Citations

Cites

Show all 44 references

Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Boerwinkle, 1988, Am J Hum Genet, 42, 104
  2. Larkin, 2000, Int J Mol Med, 6, 253
  3. O'Brien, 1994, Am J Pathol, 144, 538

Cited by

Sorted by citations

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Metadata

Authors
Mooijaart, S. P., Berbée, J. F. P., van Heemst, D., Havekes, L. M., de Craen, A. J. M., Slagboom, P. E., Rensen, P. C. N., & Westendorp, R. G. J.
Affiliations
  • Leiden University Medical Center (NL)
  • Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (NL)
Corresponding author
Mooijaart, Simon P
Venue
PLoS Medicine
Published
2006-05-09
Volume
3
Issue
6
Pages
e176
ISSN
  • 1549-1277 (ISSN-L)
  • 1549-1676
OpenAlex
W2100023507
Cited by
129
References
44
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 7
FWCI
8.16
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS Medicine (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • TNO Repository (submittedVersion)
  • Repository hosted by TU Delft Library (TU Delft) (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • Universiteit Leiden
  • Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (917.36.351, 014-90-001)
  • Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Health
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Clinical Biochemistry › Paraoxonase enzyme and polymorphisms
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic Associations and Epidemiology
Keywords
apolipoprotein E, cardiovascular mortality, APOE genotype, APOE ε3, APOE ε4, APOE ε2, C-reactive protein, cardiovascular risk factors, plasma lipids, older adults, Leiden 85-plus Study, cardiovascular risk, genetic polymorphism, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol
MeSH terms
Age Factors, Aged, 80 and over, Apolipoproteins E, C-Reactive Protein, Cardiovascular Diseases, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Genotype, Humans, Lipids, Male, Risk Factors, Survival Rate, Proportional Hazards Models, Protein Isoforms

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