Ghrelin variants influence development of body mass index and plasma levels of total cholesterol in dialyzed patients.
BACKGROUND
Ghrelin is an endogenous hormone expressed predominantly in the stomach. Ghrelin controls growth hormone secretion and also affects the body's energy balance. We analyzed the association of ghrelin variants with body mass index (BMI), albumin as a marker of malnutrition and plasma lipids as risk factors for atherosclerosis in hemodialyzed patients, in whom malnutrition and accelerated atherosclerosis are common complications.


METHODS
Ghrelin variants Arg51>Gln and Leu72> Met were analyzed by PCR-RFLP in 210 hemodialyzed patients, prospectively followed up for 15 months. Changes in body mass index, triglycerides, total cholesterol and albumin over time (after 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 months of dialysis) were analyzed in subgroups divided according to ghrelin genotypes.


RESULTS
Carriers of at least one of the Gln51 and Met72 alleles lost body weight more quickly than Arg51Arg/Leu72Leu homozygotes (p<0.01). Carriers of the Gln51 allele were at higher risk of developing high cholesterol levels (p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Common ghrelin variants may have an effect on changes in biochemical and anthropometric parameters in hemodialyzed patients over time and could be used in the future to plan individualized therapy.
Hubacek
Jaroslav A
JA
Department of Experimental Medicine, Institute for Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Prague, Czech Republic. jahb@medicon.cz
Bloudícková
Silvie
S
Bohuslavová
Romana
R
Táborský
Petr
P
Polakovic
Vladimír
V
Sazamová
Magdaléna
M
Svítilová
Eva
E
Vlasák
Jicí
J
Sojková
Iva
I
Ryba
Miroslav
M
Knetl
Petr
P
Ullrych
Martin
M
Drahozal
Radim
R
Pavuková
Veronika
V
Pavlíková
Beata
B
Fischlová
Drahomíra
D
Mokrejsová
Magdaléna
M
Chmelícková
Hana
H
Pauchová
Eva
E
Vyskocil
Pavel
P
Nýdlová
Zuzana
Z
Kopenec
Jaroslav
J
Fixa
Petr
P
Hajný
Jan
J
Bubenícek
Petr
P
Syrovátka
Petr
P
Zahálková
Jana
J
Surel
Stanislav
S
Hobzek
Zdenek
Z
Hrubý
Ales
A
Suchanová
Jana
J
Vanková
Svetlana
S
Brabcová
Jana
J
Viklický
Ondrej
O
D000483:Alleles; D001120:Arginine / Q000737:chemistry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D003956:Dialysis; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005973:Glutamine / Q000737:chemistry; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007930:Leucine / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000737:chemistry; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy
D054439:Ghrelin; D005973:Glutamine; D001120:Arginine; D002784:Cholesterol; D008715:Methionine; D007930:Leucine