Apolipoprotein E Genotype and Expression Correlated with Hepatitis C Virus Genotype and Infection

ABSTRACT

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a globally prevalent human pathogen that causes persistent liver infections in most infected individuals. Several studies reported that HCV particles are enriched in apolipoprotein E (apoE) and that apoE is required for HCV infectivity and production. However, the relationship between apoE gene polymorphisms and HCV genotypes in patients with HCV is less well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between apoE gene polymorphism and HCV genotypes in patients. The HCV genotypes were identified among the 124 patients infected with HCV, and the genetic characteristics of the HCV genotype were analyzed. In addition, the results of the clinical laboratory test were comparatively analyzed according to the classified genotypes. Both HCV 1b (n=80) and 2a (n=42) patients had higher AFP, AST, ALT, ALP, γ-GTP, apoB, and apoE values compared with the normal control group. In particular, apoB and apoE levels were statistically significantly higher in the HCV 2a patients (P<0.05) and apoE levels were significantly higher in the HCV 1b patients (P<0.000). According to the results the patients with HCV genotype 1b showed higher values of liver damage related indicators and apoB expression than the patients with HCV genotype 2a. The fat related indicators and apoE expression were not different between the two major HCV genotypes (2a and 1b). We anticipate that the apoE ε3 allele is the most common type in HCV genotype 1b (89.2%) and 2a (91.7%). As a result of apoE genotyping, we confirmed an association with HCV infection and the apoE ε3 allele. However, the ratios of the apoE ε3 allele among the patients with genotype 1b and 2a were similar to each other.