title: Is a Pro12Ala polymorphism of the PPARgamma2 gene related to obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Czech population?
abstract: The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are members of the nuclear hormone receptor subfamily of transcription factors. PPARgamma2 plays a key role in regulation of adipocyte differentiation and energy homeostasis. Recent studies provide evidence that the Pro12Ala polymorphism is linked to obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus, but the results are controversial and depend on ethnicity. The aim of this study was to determine allele frequencies and to study the influence of the polymorphism on biochemical and anthropometric parameters in a Czech healthy adult population, in type 2 diabetics, and in a group of obese women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of the Pro12Ala PPARgamma2 gene polymorphism in Czech probands is similar to other central European populations. Frequency of the Pro12Ala substitution tends to be higher in obese women and diabetics compared with controls. The fasting insulin levels in the 12Ala carriers were significantly lower within the group of diabetics even after adjustment for age, BMI, and the length of diabetes duration. In obese women, higher WHR was found in subjects with the 12Ala allele.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study indicates that the substitution Pro12Ala is not associated with a decreased obesity or diabetes risk in the Czech population. However, the present data show that fasting insulin concentrations are lower in diabetics with the 12Ala allele than in those without it. This finding provides evidence that the polymorphism may influence glucose homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Endocrinology, Prague, Czech Republic. Daniela.Sramkova@email.cz
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Srámková
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kunesová
authors.forename: Vojtech
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hainer
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vcelák
authors.forename: Bela
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bendlová
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000409:Alanine / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003604:Czechoslovakia; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005828:Genetics, Population; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011392:Proline / Q000235:genetics*; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D014157:Transcription Factors; D011392:Proline; D000409:Alanine