Trace elements and APOE polymorphisms in pregnant women and their new-bornsTrdin, Ajda (Avtor) Snoj Tratnik, Janja (Avtor) Stajnko, Anja (Avtor) Marc, Janja (Avtor) Mazej, Darja (Avtor) Sešek-Briški, Alenka (Avtor) Kastelec, Damijana (Avtor) Prpić, Igor (Avtor) Petrović, Oleg (Avtor) Špirić, Igor (Avtor) Horvat, Milena (Avtor) Falnoga, Ingrid (Avtor) ε4 allelepregnancyseleniummercurytrace elementsapolipoprotein E polymorphismWe investigated the relationship between lipid binding glycoprotein apolipoprotein E (apoE; gene APOE) polymorphisms (%4 allele carriers versus no carriers = 4+/4%) and trace elements (TEs) (e.g., (methyl)mercury, arsenic, lead, cadmium, selenium, manganese, copper, and zinc) in mothers (N = 223) and their new-borns (N = 213) exposed to potentially toxic metal(loid)s from seafood consumption. The apoE isoform encoded by the %4 allele is believed to have beneficial effects in early life but represents a risk factor for age-associated diseases. Under certain conditions %4 carriers are more susceptible to oxidative stress and metal(loid) toxicity. DNA from Croatian pregnant women (N = 223, third trimester) and their new-borns (N = 176), was genotyped for APOE by TaqMan% SNP assay % rs429358 and rs7412. Seafood intake data and TE levels in maternal urine, milk, hair, peripheral venous blood, mixed cord blood, and new-borns% urine were available from previous studies. We compared TEs between %4+ and %4% carriers using Mann-Whitney U tests and applied multiple linear regression models to analyse the TE%s dependence on the presence of allele %4 (genotypes 3/4,4/4) in combination with other explanatory variables. We identified 17% (n = 37) and 20% (n = 35) %4 allele carriers in mothers and new-borns, respectively. The Mann-Whitney U test showed that mothers with the %4 allele had significantly higher mean levels of (methyl)mercury in peripheral venous blood, cord blood, and hair; arsenic in urine and cord blood; and selenium in peripheral venous blood and plasma. However, taking confounders into account, only the maternal plasma selenium remained statistically significant in the linear regression models (%4 carriers vs non-carriers: 62.6 vs 54.9 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Literature suggestions of possible %4 allele impact on Hg levels were not observed, while superior selenium status observed in healthy pregnant women carrying allele %4 could be linked to the proposed APOE %4 beneficial effects early in life20202022-09-28 07:32:00Članek v reviji141284sl