The beta 3-adrenergic receptor gene and obesity in a population sample of African Americans.
To examine the role of the Trp64Arg polymorphism in the beta 3-adrenergic receptor gene and the beta 3-adrenergic receptor gene locus in obesity-related traits in African Americans.



A total of 687 individuals representing 193 African American families who were residents of metropolitan Chicago.



Genotyping of the Trp64Arg polymorphism in the beta 3-adrenergic receptor gene and three microsatellite markers flanking the beta 3-adrenergic receptor gene (ADRB3) locus and measuring various obesity-related traits, including body mass index (BMI), fat-free mass, fat mass, percentage fat mass, waist circumference and serum lipid levels.



The prevalence of obesity (defined as body mass index > or = 30 kg/m(2)) in the population was 27.3% and 51.2% in men and women, respectively. The frequency of the Arg64 allele was 10.0%. Multivariate regression analyses confirmed the existence of a significant contribution of familial variance to each of the five obesity-related traits noted above. Likelihood ratio statistics computed in a multivariate regression analysis failed to demonstrate a significant association between the Arg64 allele and any of the five obesity-related traits. Single and multipoint analyses using extended Haseman--Elston regression analyses failed to demonstrate suggestive evidence of linkage of three microsatellite markers that flank the beta 3-adrenergic receptor gene to BMI, percentage body fat, waist circumference or serum leptin levels.



Given the contribution of familial variance to obesity-related traits in this population, neither the null finding for the Arg64 allele nor the lack of evidence of linkage of the ADRB3 locus to obesity-related traits could be attributed to lack of transmissibility of the traits suggesting that neither the Arg64 variant of the beta 3-adrenergic receptor gene nor another genetic variant in or near the ADRB3 locus contribute significantly to familial aggregation of obesity-related traits in African Americans. International Journal of Obesity (2001) 25, 54-60
Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School and VA Chicago Healthcare System, Lakeside Division, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA. wlowe@nwu.edu
W L
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Lowe
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Rotimi
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Luke
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Guo
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Zhu
A G
AG
Comuzzie
T S
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Schuh
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Halbach
T J
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Kotlar
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Cooper
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois / Q000453:epidemiology; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D015995:Prevalence; D022702:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3 / Q000235:genetics*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D001741:Black or African American
D020738:Leptin; D008055:Lipids; D022702:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3