THE APOLIPOPROTEIN CIII T-2854G VARIANTS MODULATE FASTING AND POSTPRANDIAL TRIGLYCERIDE CONCENTRATIONS, BUT NOT EXERCISE-INDUCED HYPOTRIGLYCERIDEMIA

Abstract

Elevated triglyceride (TG) and reduced HDLC in fasting plasma are the major risk factors of nonfatal myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease. Plasma apolipoprotein CIII (apoCIII) can play an important role in TG metabolism and thereby TG concentrations in circulating plasma. PURPOSE To study an influence of the apoCIII T-2854G variants on fasting and postprandial TG concentrations and exercise-induced hypotriglyceridemia. METHODS Healthy Korean men (n = 120) participated in the study. Polymerase chain reaction followed by a restriction fragment length genotyping was performed. PCR products were digested with 7 units of Alw26I (MBI Fermentas, USA) for 2 hr at 37°C. Digested fragments were separated by 2% agarose gel and visualized by ethidium bromide staining. A subgroup of 30 subjects (10 = GG homozygotes, 10 = GT heterozygotes, 10 = TT homozygotes) was further invited to participate in two separate fat-meal tests performed before and after 3-d exercise. Fasting and postprandial blood samples were collected for TG, TC, HDLC, and LDLC measurements. RESULTS No significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed in the study population. The GG allele carriers, compared to the TT or GT allele carriers, had significantly higher TG and lower HDLC concentrations in fasting plasma (p < 0.05) and higher postprandial TG concentrations after a fat meal test performed before the 3-d exercise (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences among the specific allele carriers in postprandial TG concentrations during a fat meal test performed after the 3-day exercise. CONCLUSION This study suggests that while the T-2854G polymorphism is an important modulator of fasting and postprandial TG metabolism, other factors may be more important in determining exercise-induced hypotriglyceridemia in Korean adults.