APOLIPOPROTEIN E AND THE PROGRESSION OF RENAL NEPHROPATHY IN PACIENTS WITH DIABETES

Abstract

Apolipoprotein (Apo) E plasma is a key factor of lipid metabolism. It is a surface component of triglycerides-rich lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), chylomicron remnants and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Most of the circulating ApoE is of hepatic origin, but can also be synthesized in the spleen, kidneys, lungs, muscle and central nervous system (6). The biological activity of ApoE depends on the polymorphism of the gene. ApoE is located on the long arm of chromosome 19, described as 3 alleles (ε2, ε3 and Ε4), which codifies 3 isoforms of ApoE: ε2, Ε3 and ε4 respectively. The clear, detailed definition of ApoE function in the 3 target locations – the hypothalamus, adipose tissue and plasma – can lead to an effective screening method based on the determination of the plasma lipid profile, ApoE becoming a readily detectable marker of metabolic disorder (11,12).

Keywords

• apolipoprotein e
• metabolic disorder
• type ii diabetes mellitus
• lipid metabolism
• genetic polymorphism