title: An ATG repeat in the 3'-untranslated region of the human resistin gene is associated with a decreased risk of insulin resistance.
abstract: Resistin is overexpressed in human adipose tissue of obese individuals and is likely to modulate insulin sensitivity. Resistin is, therefore, a candidate gene for insulin resistance. We searched for polymorphisms in the resistin gene by single strand conformation polymorphism and direct sequencing. An ATG triplet repeat in the 3'-untranslated region was identified and considered for association with insulin resistance. Three alleles were identified (allele 1: 8 repeats, allele frequency, 0.3%; allele 2: 7 repeats; allele frequency, 94.5%; allele 3: 6 repeats; allele frequency, 5.2%). Two hundred and three unrelated white Caucasian nondiabetic subjects from Sicily and 456 from the Gargano area (center east coast of Italy) were analyzed. Among Sicilians, subjects carrying allele 3 had a lower fasting insulin and insulin resistance index (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance; P < 0.001 for both) and glucose (P = 0.025) and insulin (P = 0.002) levels during the oral glucose tolerance test. In subjects from Gargano, those carrying allele 3 had lower fasting plasma glucose levels and serum triglycerides (P = 0.01 for both). When the 2 populations were analyzed together, subjects carrying allele 3 had lower fasting insulin levels (P < 0.005), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (P < 0.005), and serum triglycerides (P = 0.01). In conclusion, our data suggest that subjects carrying allele 3 of the resistin gene are characterized by relatively high insulin sensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine and Pathology, CSS-Mendel Institute, University La Sapienza, 00100 Rome, Italy. antipuzzuti@libero.it
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pizzuti
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Argiolas
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di Paola
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baratta
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rauseo
authors.forename: Maura
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bozzali
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vigneri
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dallapiccola
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Trischitta
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frittitta
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006729:Hormones, Ectopic / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D052243:Resistin; D012307:Risk Factors; D018911:Trinucleotide Repeats
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D017931:DNA Primers; D006729:Hormones, Ectopic; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C499624:RETN protein, human; C486574:RETNLB protein, human; D052243:Resistin