Introduction: Several studies have demonstrated the relationship between polymorphisms in the ApoAI – CIII – AIV gene cluster and hyperlipidemia. This study was conducted to elucidate the association between polymorphism of ApoAI/XmnI and Iranian hyperlipidemic subjects.Materials and Methods: Total genomic DNA was prepared from seventy-six Iranian patient with primary hyperlipidemia and seventy-five normolipidemic subjects. The subjects in the control group were age- and sex-matched to the patients. Fragment of 392 bp for 5´ region of the apoAI gene (C-2500T) was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: In the hyperlipidemic group, the genotype frequency of X1X1, X1X2, X2X2 were 0.63, 0.24, 0.13, respectively. In the control group those were 0.81, 0.11 and 0.08, respectively. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between 2 groups. The rare allele (X2) was more frequent in hyperlipidemic group than in controls (p<0.01). Various genotypes of apoAI/XmnI had no significant effect on lipids or apoAI levels in hyperlipidemic group.Conclusion: The above results show that polymorphism ApoAI/XmnI is associated with hyperlipidemia in Iranian hyperlipidemic subjects. Therefore, our data confirmed the previously reported association between genetic polymorphism ApoAI/XmnI and hyperlipidemia.

Background: Early obesity and its transfer to the adulthood, increases likelihood incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD). ATP-binding cassette transporter (ABCA1) as a member of the ABC transporters family plays a crucial role in reverse cholesterol transport and CAD prevention.Objective: The current study aimed to investigate ABCA1 expression in lymphocytes, plasma apolipoprotein A-I and HDL-C in response to eight week interval endurance rope training in overweight and obese boy adolescents.Patients and Methods: Thirty students (17.3±1.1 yr, 85.73±11.68 kg and 28.41±2.36 kg/m2) volunteered and were randomly assigned into training (n=15) and control (n=15) groups. Exercise protocol was interval endurance rope training (8 wk, 4 d/wk and 40 min/d). Cell hemolysis and sensitive Elisa method was used for Lymphocyte ABAC1 protein expression.t-test was employed.Results: The independent-samples T-Test results showed that after 8 weeks IERT, the levels of lymphocyte ABCA1 expression (P=0.001) and VO2max (P=0.001) significantly increased and plasma levels of TG (P=0.017), TC (P=0.001), LDL-c/HDL-c (P=0.026), TC/HDL-c (P=0.002) and measures of BF% (P=0.015) and BMI (P=0.042) as anthropometric indicators significantly decreased. Changes of other variables such as increase in APOA-I, HDL-c and decrease in LDL-c, body weight, were not significant.Conclusions: The findings of this study proved that eight-week interval endurance rope training can have positive effects on lymphocyte ABCA1 protein expression (as gatekeeper of reverse cholesterol process) and lipid profiles among overweight and obese boy adolescents.

Introduction: Changes in lipids and apo lipoproteins levels are considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The APOAI-CIII-AIV gene cluster plays an important role in regulating of the metabolism and level of lipids. The aim of this study was to elucidate the associations of five single nucleotide polymorphisms in the Apo11q cluster gene with lipid levels. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of 823 subjects (340 males and 483 females) from the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) was performed. Anthropometrical and serum concentrations of TG, Chol, HDL, Apo AI, Apo AIV, Apo B, Apo CIII were measured. The segments of the APOAI-CIIIAIV gene cluster were amplified by PCR and the polymorphisms were revealed by RFLP using restriction enzymes.Results: Allele frequencies of each SNP did not differ significantly between males and females. Genotypes and alleles distributions were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, except for Apo AI (+83C>T). Results demonstrated a significant association between TG, HDL-C, HDL2, Apo AI and Apo B levels and the presence of some alleles in the polymorphisms studied.After haplotype analysis not only did the association between these variables and SNPs remain, but the levels of total cholesterol and LDL-C were also added.Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that in addition to environmental factors, genetic variations are also important in the regulation of the metabolism and level of lipids such as TG and HDL-C.

Background: Neurons need a high amount of cholesterol to maintain the stability of their membrane-rich structures. Astrocytes synthesize and distribute cholesterol to neurons, and ABCA1 is a key mediator of cholesterol efflux to generate HDL for cholesterol transport in the brain. Several studies imply the effect of aspirin on ABCA1 expression in peripheral cells such as macrophages. Here, we compared the effect of aspirin with APOA-I on ABCA1 protein expression and cholesterol efflux in human astrocytes. Materials and Methods: Human astrocytes were cultured, and the effects of aspirin on the expression and protein levels of ABCA1 were investigated through RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Additionally, the effect of co-treatment with APOA-I and aspirin on ABCA1 protein level and cholesterol efflux was evaluated. Results: Dose and time-course experiments showed that the maximum effect of aspirin on ABCA1 expression occurred at a concentration of 0. 5 mM after 12 h of incubation. RT-PCR and western blot data showed that aspirin upregulates ABCA1 expression by up to 4. 7-fold and its protein level by 67%. Additionally, co-treatment with aspirin and APOA-I increased cholesterol release from astrocytes, indicating an additive effect of aspirin on apoAI-mediated cholesterol efflux. Conclusions: The results suggest a potential role of aspirin in increasing ABCA1 expression and cholesterol efflux in astrocytes, similar to the effect of APOA-I. This indicates that aspirin could potentially regulate brain cholesterol balance and can be considered in certain neurological diseases, in particular in some neurological disorders related to cholesterol accumulation such as Alzheimer’s disease.

Introduction: ApoAI, is the main protein of HDL and its gene is a member of apoAI-CIII-AIV gene cluster on chromosome 11q23-q24. In some studies, association of PstI polymorphism with dyslipidemia has been reported. This study was designed to investigate the frequency of rare allele (P2) of apoAI gene PstI polymorphism and its association with serum lipids levels in an Iranian population (Semnan city).Materials and Methods: In a case-control study genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood of 76 Iranian hyperlipidemic patients [total cholesterol (TC)>200 mg/dL, triglyceride (TG)>150 mg/dL] and 75 healthy control subjects (TC<200 mg/dL and TG<150 mg/dL) The PstI polymorphism was analyzed by PCR-RFLP.Results: The frequencies of the PstI polymorphism minor allele (P2) were 22.14 and 14.7 in the case and control groups respectively (P>0.05). In the case group, patients with P2P2 genotype had lower serum HDL-c and apoAI, compared those with P1P1and P1P2 genotypes (P>0.05).Conclusion: Considerably, the presence of the rare P2 allele was not associated with lipid levels in the studied population. The association between the polymorphisms and dyslipidemia is quite complicated. We propose evaluation of PstI polymorphism with other polymorphic sites in the apoAI-CIII-AIV gene cluster.

Background: One of the most important metabolic disorders is hyperlipidemia. ApoAI protein plays an important role in lipoprotein metabolism. In this study, the association between MspI polymorphisms in the promoter (G-75A) and first intron (C83T) of the apoAI gene and hyperlipidemia was investigated in Semnan, Iran. Methods: A total of 151 unrelated subjects were divided into two groups: the hyperlipidemic (N = 75) and control (N = 76) groups. Genotyping was carried out by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results: In the hyperlipidemic group, the frequency of the (+-) variant of the MspI (C83T) locus was higher than that in the control group (P < 0. 05). Significant differences were found in serum HDL-C and apoAI levels between different genotypes of MspI (C83T) (P < 0. 001 and P = 0. 02, respectively). In the hyperlipidemic group, the odds ratios for the (+-) and (– ) genotypes of the MspI (C83T) locus in comparison to that for the (++) genotype were 0. 26 (P= 0. 023) and 3. 62 (P = 0. 254), respectively. The allelic frequency at the (G-75A) locus was not significantly different in the hyperlipidemic and control groups (P = 0. 36). The serum levels of lipid and lipoprotein were not significantly different for all genotypes of MspI (G-75A). The AA/++ and GG/– haplotypes had the lowest and highest apoB/apoAI ratios, respectively (0. 73 0. 03 vs. 1. 9). Conclusions: The presence of (+) and A alleles in the apoAI (C83T) and (G-75A) haplotypes in the Semnan population may be protective against cardiovascular disease.

Background & Objectives: Lipoprotein [LP(a)] is formed by assembly of LDL particles and carbohydrate rich protein, apolipoprotein (a). LP(a) is elevated in patients with proteinuria or nephrotic syndrome, but it is still controversial whether this is due to hypoalbuminemia or proteinuria.Methods: We studied a group of 71 children suffering from nephrotic syndrome in the absence of renal failure. The levels of serum albumin, LP(a), triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density, lipoprotein- cholesterol (HDL-C), APOAI and APOB were measured by standard methods. The results were compared with those obtained from 75 age and sex matched normal children as control group. The concentrations of creatinin and protein in random urine samples obtained from children and the protein/creatinin ratio were calculated. The Relationship between measured parameters and/or serum albumin and proteinuria was evaluated.Results: Compared to the control group the serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, LP(a), APOB and APOAI increated (p<0.05 in all cases), but no marked differences were observed in levels of HDL-C in case group. The levels of serum albumin in patient group were significantly lower than that of control (p<0.05). Serum levels of lipids and lipoproteins including APOAI and APOB were more correlated with plasma albumin level than with protein/creatinin ratio in the patient group.Conclusion: The results indicated that in children nephrotic syndrome with on renal failure, the increase of serum levels of LP(a) is mainly related to hypoalbuminemia that stimulates liver synthesis of APOB and is not related to the degree of proteinuria. It was concluded that determination of APOB is the best marker of hyperlipidemia in nephrotic syndrome and normal serum albumin levels seem to be a factor that may determine the of treatment efficacy of hyperlipidemia in nephrotic syndrome.

Background and objectives: Lipid abnormalities, especially high serum Lp(a) concentrations, are one of the major causes of cardiovascular diseases in hemodialysis patients. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of L-carnitine supplementation on serum lipids and apoproteins in hemodialysis patients with Lp(a) hyperlipoproteinemia.Materials and methods: The study was a randomized clinical trial in which 36 hyper Lp(a) hemodialysis patients (23 males and 13 females) with serum Lp(a) more than 30 mg/dl were randomly assigned to receive either a daily oral carnitine supplement of 1000mg (carnitine group) or no supplement (control group) for 12 weeks. At the baseline and the end of the period 5ml blood were collected after a 12 to 14-hour fast from each patient before dialysis and serum free carnitine, triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, apoAI, apoB100, Lp(a), IL-6 and albumin were measured. Results: As compared to the initial values, the mean serum free carnitine concentration increased significantly in the carnitine group at the end of the period (P<0.001), while serum triglyceride (P<0.05), total cholesterol (P<0.001) and IL-6 (P<0.001) decreased significantly. No significant changes were observed in the serum concentrations of free carnitine, triglyceride, total cholesterol and IL-6 in the control group. In addition, there were no significant differences between the 2groups as regards mean changes of the serum HDL-C, LDL-C, apoAI, apoB100, Lp(a), and albumin levels.Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that an L-carnitine supplement has no effect on serum Lp(a) concentration in hemodialysis patients with Lp(a) hyperlipoproteinemia, but it may be effective in preventing cardiovascular diseases by reducing serum triglyceride and total cholesterol concentrations in these patients.

Background and objectives: Lipid abnormalities, especially high serum Lp(a) concentration, is one of the major causes of cardiovascular diseases in peritoneal dialysis patients. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of soy consumption on serum lipid and apoprotein levels in peritoneal dialysis patients.Materials and methods: The study was a randomized clinical trial in which 40 peritoneal dialysis patients (20 males and 20 females) were randomly assigned to either a soy or a control diet. The patients in the soy group received 28 g/d textured soy flour (containing 14 g soy protein) for 12 weeks, while the patients in the control group consumed their usual diet without any soy. At the baseline and at the end of the period, from each patient 5 ml blood were collected after a 12- to 14-hour fast and serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, apoAI, apoB100, Lp(a), TNF-a, albumin, and phosphorus  measured.Results: The serum Lp(a) concentration in more than 86% of the peritoneal dialysis patients was above the normal range.  As compared to the baseline value, the mean serum Lp(a) concentration decreased significantly by 41% (P<0.01) in the soy group at the end of 8-week  period,   and the reduction was significant as compared to the control group (P<0.05). The mean serum Lp(a) concentration did not change significantly in the control group. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups with regard to mean changes in the serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-C, LDL-C, apoB100, apoAI, TNF-a, albumin or phosphorus levels.Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that soy consumption reduces serum Lp(a) concentration considerably in peritoneal dialysis patients. Therefore, it may be effective in preventing cardiovascular diseases in these patients.