[Management, science, art, magic?].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to M Hees.
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Apolipoprotein E from human serum shows a genetic polymorphism determined by two autosomal codominant alleles, Apo En and Apo Ed. Homozygosity for the gene Apo Ed (phenotype Apo E-D) results in primary dysbetalipoproteinemia, but only some individuals with this phenotype develop gross hyperlipidemia (hyperlipoproteinemia type III). Vertical transmission of dysbetalipoproteinemia represents pseudodominance due to the high frequency of the gene Apo Ed. Dysbetalipoproteinemia is already expressed in childhood. To assess the influence of other genes on the expression of hyperlipidemia in phenotype Apo E-D, comparative studies were carried out in kindreds of hypercholesterolemic (group A) and normo- or hypocholesterolemic probands with dysbetalipoproteinemia (group B). This demonstrated the occurrence of familial (non-type III) forms of hyperlipidemia in group A but not in group B kindreds. Distribution of lipoprotein phenotypes in five of the group A kindreds was consistent with the occurrence of familial combined hyperlipidemia. Apo E phenotypes and hyperlipidemia segregated independently. It is concluded that primary dysbetalipoproteinemia is a frequent monogenic variant of lipoprotein metabolism, but not a disease. Coincidence in one individual of genes for this specific dyslipoproteinemia with any of the genes for monogenic or polygenic forms of familial hyperlipidemia results in hyperlipoproteinemia type III. Hence hyperlipoproteinemia type III is caused by at least two non-allelic genes and is a polygenic disorder.
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The apoprotein composition of the main lipoprotein fractions (VLDL, LDL-1, LDL-2 and HDL) was studied initially in 15 patients with Broad-beta disease. Analytical isoelectric focusing of urea-soluble apo-VLDL and apo LSL-1 demonstrated a variant pattern of the polymorphic Apoprotein E with a deficient Apo E-III band in all patients. The Apo E-III deficiency pattern was seen in only six out of 304 hyperlipidaemic controls. These six Apo E-III deficient controls had characteristic signs of Broad-beta disease, and thus represented patients not previously recognized as having the disorder. The Apo E focusing patterns were constant on repeated examinations and were stable under different metabolic conditions. The data show that Apo E-III deficiency in VLDL is a specific qualitative marker for Broad-beta disease, allowing an unequivocal diagnosis that had not been possible previously. Indirect evidence suggests that Apo E-III deficiency is the basic lipoprotein abnormality underlying the familial dyslipoproteinaemia.