Research article

Segregation analysis of apolipoprotein A1 levels in families of adolescents: A community-based study in Taiwan

Kuo-Liong Chien^1,2 , Wei J Chen³ , Hsiu-Ching Hsu² , Ta-Chen Su² , Ming-Fong Chen² and Yuan-Teh Lee²

¹Institute of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

²Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

³Institute of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan

author email corresponding author email

BMC Genetics 2006, 7:4doi:10.1186/1471-2156-7-4

Published:	20 January 2006

Abstract

Background

Apolipoprotein (Apo) A1 is a protective factor for cardiovascular events. This study aimed to perform complex segregation analyses of Apo A1 levels in families of adolescents systematically ascertained from the junior high school students in a rural community. Both siblings and parents of the adolescent probands were recruited for the study. Apo A1 concentrations were measured by turbidimetric immunoassay methods. After adjustment for gender, age, body mass index, smoking and drinking status, residual values of Apo A1 were subjected to subsequent analyses.

Results

Significant mother-father and parent-offspring correlations were found. Commingling analyses indicated that a four-component distribution model was needed to account for the Apo A1 variation. Segregation analysis using regressive models revealed that the best-fit model of Apo A1 was a model of environmental effect plus familial correlation (heritability = 23.9%), in which a significant mother-father correlation existed. Models containing major gene effect could be rejected.

Conclusion

These results suggest that variations of Apo A1 levels in the normal range, especially during adolescence, are likely to be influenced by multiple factors without significant contribution from major genes.