The Pro12Ala polymorphism in PPARgamma2 gene affects lipid parameters in Greek primary school children: A case of gene-to-gender interaction.
BACKGROUND
In the present study we sought to evaluate the impact of the PPAR-gamma2 Pro12Ala polymorphism on blood lipid levels of primary school children.


METHODS
81 male and 92 female schoolchildren were genotyped. Biochemical, anthropometric, and lifestyle variables were assessed.


RESULTS
14.1% females and 14.8% males were heterozygotes, while the rest of the subjects were homozygotes for the Pro allele. A significant interaction between the PPARgamma-2 gene and gender on blood lipid levels was detected. In particular, Pro/Pro females exhibited higher values of total cholesterol (194 +/- 32 vs 180 +/- 28 mg/dL, P = 0.06) and triglycerides (94 +/- 31 vs 77 +/- 11 mg/dL, P = 0.045) compared to Pro/Ala individuals. The gene-to-gender interaction term was highly significant (P < 0.001). On the other hand, Pro/Pro males showed higher values of HDL cholesterol (47 +/- 8 vs 43 +/- 9 mg/dL, P = 0.001), lower total cholesterol/HDL ratio (4.04 +/- 0.59 vs 4.45 +/- 0.61, P = 0.031), lower values of apoB (59.8 +/- 11.3 vs 66.8 +/- 6.6 mg/dL, P = 0.007) and lower values of apoB/apoA1 ratio (0.41 +/- 0.09 vs 0.48 +/- 0.08, P = 0.019) compared with Pro/Ala. Even after adjusting for body mass index (BMI), total energy intake, total fat intake and saturated fat intake, differences in total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and the apoB/apoA1 ratios remained significant. Regarding females, no differences were observed among genotypes concerning total cholesterol/HDL levels (P for gene-to-gender interaction = 0.001) and the apoB/apoA1 levels (P for gene-to-gender interaction = 0.029).


CONCLUSIONS
We show for the first time a gene-to-gender interaction on total cholesterol/HDL and apoB/apoA1 ratios, in male schoolchildren genotyped for PPAR-gamma2 Pro12Ala.
Dedoussis
George V Z
GV
Department of Science in Dietetics-Nutrition, Harokopio University of Athens, Greece. dedousi@hua.gr
Theodoraki
Eirini V
EV
Manios
Yannis
Y
Yiannakouris
Nikos
N
Panagiotakos
Demosthenes
D
Papoutsakis
Constantina
C
Skenderi
Katerina
K
Zampelas
Antonis
A
D000409:Alanine / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D000483:Alleles; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011392:Proline / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012737:Sex Factors
D008055:Lipids; D047495:PPAR gamma; D011392:Proline; D000409:Alanine