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Clue found as to why small babies have increased risk of heart disease as adults
August 14, 2003The reason why small babies have an increased risk of heart disease as adults may lie in abnormal parental gene transfer, suggests preliminary research in the Journal of Medical Genetics.
The researchers studied almost 500 babies born after 24 weeks of pregnancy whose weight was below what would be expected for their developmental stage and gender. All the babies were born at one centre between 1998 and 2000.
Genetic material was extracted from blood samples taken from mothers and babies, and from mouth swabs taken from the fathers. The researchers tested for the presence of the APOE gene in 440 mother and baby pairs and 194 fathers.
The APOE gene encodes for the protein component of the fat and protein complexes found in blood plasma. It comes in three varieties (℮2, ℮3, and ℮4 alleles). APOE is involved in various immune processes, control of cell growth, and brain development.
Animal studies have shown that deficient APOE expression increases susceptibility to narrowing and hardening of the arteries; when the gene is ‘overexpressed’, it exerts anti-inflammatory effects and protects against furring up of the arteries.
When the researchers looked at APOE variants in the DNA samples, they found that the parental transmission of ℮2 was significantly reduced in the small babies; ℮3 was passed on marginally more than would be expected, while ℮4 conformed to expectations.
Overall, these patterns were not what would have been expected when taking into account race, gender, smoking history of the mother, and birthweight and other pregnancy complications.
On the basis of their results, the authors speculate that ℮2 is the critical variant of the APOE gene, and that it seems to protect against low birthweight (intrauterine growth restriction). Given that it is transmitted less frequently to small babies, and given that small babies are more prone to cardiovascular disease as adults, the ℮2 allele could be the missing link in the puzzle, the authors suggest.
British Medical Journal (BMJ)
The APOE gene encodes for the protein component of the fat and protein complexes found in blood plasma. It comes in three varieties (℮2, ℮3, and ℮4 alleles). APOE is involved in various immune processes, control of cell growth, and brain development.
Animal studies have shown that deficient APOE expression increases susceptibility to narrowing and hardening of the arteries; when the gene is ‘overexpressed’, it exerts anti-inflammatory effects and protects against furring up of the arteries.
When the researchers looked at APOE variants in the DNA samples, they found that the parental transmission of ℮2 was significantly reduced in the small babies; ℮3 was passed on marginally more than would be expected, while ℮4 conformed to expectations.
Overall, these patterns were not what would have been expected when taking into account race, gender, smoking history of the mother, and birthweight and other pregnancy complications.
On the basis of their results, the authors speculate that ℮2 is the critical variant of the APOE gene, and that it seems to protect against low birthweight (intrauterine growth restriction). Given that it is transmitted less frequently to small babies, and given that small babies are more prone to cardiovascular disease as adults, the ℮2 allele could be the missing link in the puzzle, the authors suggest.
British Medical Journal (BMJ)
Heart Disease Current Events and Heart Disease News RSSApple or pear shape is not main culprit to heart woes — it's liver fat
For years, pear-shaped people who carry weight in the thighs and backside have been told they are at lower risk for high blood pressure and heart disease than apple-shaped people who carry fat in the abdomen. But new findings from nutrition researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggest body-shape comparisons don't completely explain risk.
Cardiovascular disease causing increasing inequity between rich and poor
A new paper released today by The George Institute for International Health is warning a cardiovascular disease based epidemic is gaining pace among many low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), exemplified at its worst in the world's largest populated countries - China and India.
Fruit fly research may lead to better understanding of human heart disease
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Presence of gum disease may help dentists and physicians identify risk for cardiovascular disease
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Estrogen therapy could be dangerous for women with existing heart risk
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Researchers identify how binge drinking may drive heart disease
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Why women should eat less, move more and consider wearing transdermal HRT patches during menopause
Weight and appetite experts from around the world met at a conference in Bangkok earlier this year to discuss sex differences in obesity. One line of discussion looked at factors leading to women's weight gain during menopause, and how it might be avoided.
Mechanisms of cardiovascular disease and cancer give clues to new therapies
Cardiovascular conditions leading to heart attacks and strokes are treated quite separately from common cancers of the prostate, breast or lung, but now turn out to involve some of the same critical mechanisms at the molecular level.
Scientists discover 21st century plague
Bacteria that can cause serious heart disease in humans are being spread by rat fleas, sparking concern that the infections could become a bigger problem in humans.
MU study reveals effective anti-tobacco ads should either scare or disgust viewers
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