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Negative and independent influence of apolipoprotein E on C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration in obese adults. Potential anti-inflammatory role of apoE in vivo

International Journal of Obesity volume 25, pages 1752–1758 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Obesity is frequently associated with an increase in the early inflammation marker C-reactive protein (CRP), insulin resistance and changes in lipoprotein metabolism. Increased CRP is known as an independent cardiovascular risk factor. Since the apolipoproteins (apo) E and CIII components of HDL are associated with reduced cardiovascular risk and since apoE has in vitro anti-inflammatory effect, we have investigated the relationships between apoE, apoCIII (in apoB and non apoB containing lipoproteins) and CRP in obese adults.

METHODS: The following parameters from 34 healthy obese fasting women (age 22–64 y, body mass index (BMI) 28–68 kg/m2) were measured: (1) ApoE and apoCIII, in total plasma, in apoB- (E LpB, CIII LpB) and non-apoB-containing lipoproteins (E LpnonB, CIII LpnonB); (2) CRP and cytokine secreted by adipose tissue (TNF-α and its soluble receptor TNFR2); (3) triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, waist and hip circumferences, insulin, glucose. HOMA, a marker of insulin sensitivity, and the ratio E/CIII in LpB and LpnonB were calculated.

RESULTS: CRP was positively correlated with BMI (P<0.05), waist circumference (WC, P<0.05), triglyceride (P<0.05) and negatively correlated with apoE (P<0.01) and E LpnonB (P<0.05). Two multiple regression models including parameters related to CRP with a P<0.25 were run stepwise to assess their independent contribution to CRP concentration. In the first model (including BMI, WC, HOMA, insulin, triglyceride, apoE, E LpnonB), apoE was the best predictor of CRP (P=0.01) together with triglyceride (P=0.02) and BMI (P=0.08). The second model took into account E/CIII LpnonB ratio with the parameters included in the first model. In this second model, E/CIII LpnonB was the best predictor of CRP (P=0.007), explaining 39% of CRP variance.

CONCLUSION: ApoE is strongly correlated with CRP and could have an anti-inflammatory effect in vivo in obese subjects. This correlation could be limited to LpnonB lipoproteins, depending on their apoE and CIII relative content.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by la Direction de la Recherche Clinique University Hospital, CHU Hôtel-Dieu, Nantes, France.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biochimie fondamentale et appliquée, UFR de Pharmacie, Nantes, France

    K Bach-Ngohou, H Nazih, F Nazih-Sanderson & JM Bard

  2. INSERM U539, CHU, Hôtel-Dieu, Nantes, France

    K Bach-Ngohou, H Nazih, Y Zaïr, M Krempf & JM Bard

  3. Laboratoire de Biochimie Spécialisée, CHU, Hôtel-Dieu, Nantes, France

    K Bach-Ngohou, D Le Carrer & JM Bard

  4. Clinique d'Endocrinologie, Maladies Métaboliques et Nutrition, CHU, Hôtel-Dieu, Nantes, France

    Y Zaïr & M Krempf

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  1. K Bach-Ngohou
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Bach-Ngohou, K., Nazih, H., Nazih-Sanderson, F. et al. Negative and independent influence of apolipoprotein E on C-reactive protein (CRP) concentration in obese adults. Potential anti-inflammatory role of apoE in vivo. Int J Obes 25, 1752–1758 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801833

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