G-2548A polymorphism of the leptin gene is correlated with extreme obesity in Taiwanese aborigines.
We examined the genetic associations of the G-2548A polymorphism in the promoter of the leptin (LEP) gene and the Gln223Arg (Q223R) polymorphism of the leptin receptor (LEPR) gene with obesity. Two hundred twenty-six obese aboriginal subjects (BMI > or = 27 kg/m2) and 182 aboriginal subjects with normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m2) participated in this study. The polymorphisms of LEP G-2548A and LEPR Q223R were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism, and their anthropometric characteristics were measured. Levels of leptin, triglycerides, and cholesterol were measured after overnight fasting. We found that the frequencies of the LEP G/G homozygote (22.6%) with Mendelian recessive (chi2 = 7.89, p = 0.005) and codominant (chi2 = 7.93, p = 0.02) models to be higher in the extremely obese subjects (BMI > or = 35 kg/m2) than in normal weight subjects (6.9%) but not in moderately obese subjects (35 > BMI > or = 27 kg/m2). There was no difference in genotypic frequency of the LEPR Q223R polymorphism between the extreme obese and control groups. We suggest that the LEP -2548 G/G homozygote plays a genetic recessive role in the development of extreme obesity in Taiwanese aborigines.
Faculty of Public Health, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Tsu-Nai
TN
Wang
Meng-Chuan
MC
Huang
Wen-Tsan
WT
Chang
Albert Min-Shan
AM
Ko
Eing-Mei
EM
Tsai
Chih-Shan
CS
Liu
Chien-Hung
CH
Lee
Ying-Chin
YC
Ko
D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D013624:Taiwan; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
C515448:LEPR protein, human; D020738:Leptin; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol