Analysis of sequence variations in the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)-3 gene in extremely obese children and adolescents.
BACKGROUND
The suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)-3 is a negative feedback regulator of cytokine signaling and also influences leptin signaling. We investigated association of variations in the coding sequence and promoter region of SOCS3 with extreme obesity in German children and adolescents.


METHODS
An initial screen for sequence variations in 181 extremely obese children and adolescents and 188 healthy underweight adults revealed two previously reported single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the SOCS3 5' region: -1044 C>A (numbering refers to bases upstream of ATG in exon 2) within a predicted STAT3 binding element and -920 C>A (rs12953258, for numbering, see above).


RESULTS
We did not detect significant differences in allele or genotype frequencies for any of these SNPs between the analysed study groups (all nominal p > 0.2). In addition, we performed a pedigree transmission disequilibrium test (PDT) for the SNP -1044 C>A in families comprising 703 obese children and adolescents, 281 of their obese siblings and both biological parents. The PDT revealed no transmission disequilibrium (nominal p > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, our data do not suggest evidence for a major role of the respective SNPs in SOCS3 in the pathogenesis of extreme obesity in our study groups.
Hölter
Katja
K
Clinical Research Group, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Philipps-University of Marburg, Germany. Hoelter@med.uni-marburg.de
Wermter
Anne-Kathrin
AK
Scherag
André
A
Siegfried
Wolfgang
W
Goldschmidt
Hanspeter
H
Hebebrand
Johannes
J
Hinney
Anke
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D017931:DNA Primers; C106644:SOCS3 protein, human; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D050826:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins