Association of Apolipoprotein M Gene Polymorphisms with Ischemic Stroke in a Han Chinese Population

The apolipoprotein M (ApoM) gene is critical in the formation of pre-beta-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and cholesterol efflux to HDL. In this case and control study, 314 ischemic stroke patients and 389 healthy controls were analyzed for three ApoM gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), i.e., C-1065A, T-855C, and T-778C, using a SNaPshot Multiplex sequencing assay. The genotype and allele frequencies of the T-855C were similar in both ischemic stroke patients and the controls. But the frequency of the TC genotype, the C allele of T-778C, and the A allele of the C-1065A SNPs in ischemic stroke patients was significantly higher than that of the healthy controls. After adjusting for confounding risk factors (such as hypertension, diabetes, tobacco smoking, and alcohol consumption), the ApoM gene TC genotype, C allele of T-778C, and A allele of C-1065A were associated with a risk of ischemic stroke. Moreover, plasma levels of total cholesterol were significantly higher in patients with CC or CT genotypes of T-778C than those with TT genotype in the controls. The current data demonstrated that ApoM T-778 C and C-1065A SNPs were associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke in this Han Chinese population.