title: Investigation of 3111T/C polymorphism of the CLOCK gene in obese individuals with or without binge eating disorder: association with higher body mass index.
abstract: Loss of circadian patterning of metabolism-related functions seems to play a role in the pathogenesis of obesity; therefore, it is reasonable to hypothesize that the functional 3111T/C single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the (Circadian locomotor output cycles kaput) CLOCK gene may have a part in the genetic susceptibility to obesity. The aim of this study was to assess the frequencies of 3111T/C CLOCK gene SNP in overweight/obese subjects with or without binge eating disorder (BED) as compared to normal weight healthy controls. A total of 284 Caucasian subjects, including 92 normal weight healthy subjects and 192 overweight/obese patients (107 with BED) participated into the study. Genotype and allele frequencies did not significantly differ between normal weight controls and overweight/obese patients with and/or without BED. However, overweight/obese patients carrying the CC genotype had significantly higher values of body mass index (BMI) as compared to those carrying the CT and/or TT genotypes. Moreover, obese class III individuals had a significantly higher frequency of both the CC genotype and the C allele as compared to individuals with BMI<40 kg/m(2). Present findings show for the first time that the 3111T/C SNP of the CLOCK gene is not associated to human obesity and/or BED, but it seems to predispose obese individuals to a higher BMI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Naples SUN, Largo Madonna delle Grazie, 80138 Naples, Italy. monteri@tin.it
authors.forename: Palmiero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Monteleone
authors.forename: Alfonso
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tortorella
authors.forename: Ludovico
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Docimo
authors.forename: Mauro N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Maldonato
authors.forename: Benedetta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Canestrelli
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maj
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D056926:CLOCK Proteins; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005820:Genetic Testing; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D015534:Trans-Activators; D056926:CLOCK Proteins; C538943:CLOCK protein, human