Abstract
Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is a glycosylated protein with multiple biological properties.
APOE
gene polymorphism plays a central role in lipid metabolism and has recently been suggested to regulate inflammation. Our objective is to evaluate whether
APOE
polymorphism affects susceptibility to SLE.
APOE
genotyping was performed using ApoE StripAssay™ kit. Results indicated significantly higher frequencies of allele ε4 and genotype ε3/ε4 and lower frequencies of allele ε3 and genotype ε3/ε3 in SLE patients than controls.
APOE
ε2 allele was found in three patients, whereas it was absent in controls. The frequencies of allele ε4 and genotype ε3/ε4 were significantly higher in SLE patients with renal involvement and those of alleles ε2, ε4 and genotypes ε2/ε3, ε3/ε4 were higher in patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms. It is concluded that
APOE
allele ε4 is associated with susceptibility risk/clinical manifestations of SLE and ε2 may increase its severity while ε3 is protective for SLE in Saudis.