EFFECT OF APO E POLYMORPHISM ON COAGULATION FACTOR VII RESPONSE TO EXERCISE TRAINING

Abstract

Elevated plasma factor VII (FVII) levels have been associated with increased risk of ischemic heart disease. Several studies have shown a positive correlation between FVII and plasma cholesterol and triglycerides levels. Recently, the APO E polymorphism has been associated with an increased risk of thrombotic events and subsequently, has been shown to be associated with FVII levels. PURPOSE: To assess the association between APO E polymorphism and changes in factor VII antigen (FVII:Ag) levels with 6 months of exercise training. METHODS: Thirty sedentary men and women aged 50–75 years, with at least one lipoprotein-lipid risk factor underwent 6 months of endurance exercise training at 70% of their VO2max, 3 days/week, 40 min/session while on a low-fat diet. DNA samples were extracted from peripheral lymphocytes and APO E polymorphism was typed using polymerase-chain reaction. FVII: Ag and plasma lipid levels were measured before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Changes in plasma factor VII antigen were significant overall (−2.62 ± 6.15% of the standard, p = 0.02) and there was no difference between genders in this response. The response of FVII: Ag to the training program was significantly different among genotype groups (p = 0.03), with APO E4 individuals showing the greatest decrease (−6.69 ± 2.91%), APO E3 subjects showing a slight decrease (−1.26 ± 6.32%), and APO E2 individuals showing an increase (2.15 ± 6.69%). The relationship was no longer significant after covarying for triglyceride and cholesterol level changes with exercise training suggesting that the effect of APO E genotype on changes in FVII: Ag may be mediated through exercise training-induced changes in lipid metabolism. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicate that APO E genotype may have an indirect contribution to the inter-individual differences in FVII changes with exercise training.