The Gln27Glu polymorphism in the beta2-adrenergic receptor gene is not associated with morbid obesity in Austrian women.
OBJECTIVE
Beta-adrenergic receptors (betaARs) play an important role in the regulation of energy expenditure and lipid mobilization. A Gl-27Glu polymorphism in the beta2-adrenergic receptor (beta2AR) gene has recently been associated with several indices of obesity in a female Caucasian population, while the same polymorphism exhibited no association with obesity in another, albeit male, population.


METHODS
We have therefore studied possible associations of the Gln27Glu and the Gly16Arg polymorphisms in the beta2AR with BMI, plasma leptin and UCP-1 mRNA expression in the intraperitoneal adipose tissue in a population of Caucasian women.


RESULTS
The frequencies of the Gln27 and the Gly16 alleles as well as the beta2AR haplotypes were similar in our morbidly obese and lean subjects. Furthermore, no association was found between the Gln27Glu or the Gly16Arg polymorphisms and plasma leptin or adipose tissue UCP-1 gene expression in either group.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that the two polymorphisms in the beta2AR gene studied are not a major factor contributing to obesity in our population.
Oberkofler
H
H
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Landeskrankenanstalten Salzburg, Austria.
Esterbauer
H
H
Hell
E
E
Krempler
F
F
Patsch
W
W
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000737:chemistry; D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine; D001317:Austria; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D005973:Glutamine; D005998:Glycine; D006801:Humans; D007473:Ion Channels; D020738:Leptin / Q000032:analysis; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; D020738:Leptin; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2; C000604371:UCP1 protein, human; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1; D005973:Glutamine; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D001120:Arginine; D005998:Glycine