title: Genetic polymorphisms of beta2- and beta3-adrenergic receptor genes associated with characteristics of the metabolic syndrome in black South African women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Genetic variation in the beta2 (ADRB2) and beta3 (ADRB3) adrenergic receptor genes are associated with obesity and insulin resistance. To further elucidate the role of these genes in the pathophysiology of obesity the present study investigated associations between certain polymorphisms in ADRB2 and ADRB3 and parameters of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in a population of African origin.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data of 102 black South African women obtained in the POWIRS (Profile of Obese Women with the Insulin Resistance Syndrome) study were used. Endpoint measurements included several anthropometric variables, resting blood pressure, plasma glucose, insulin, free fatty acids (FFA), ghrelin, leptin and lipids, and insulin resistance as estimated by the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) index. Polymorphisms were analyzed via PCR based methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage body fat was significantly lower (p< or =0.05) and the FFA significantly higher (p< or =0.05) in lean subjects (BMI< or =25 kg/m2) with the Glu27 variant allele compared to subjects with the Gln27 wildtype allele of the ADRB2 gene. In contrast, the variant allele of the ADRB2 gene was significantly positive associated (p< or =0.05) with the HOMA-IR-index in overweight black African women (BMI>25 kg/m2). No significant differences in parameters of the metabolic syndrome were apparent between subjects with the wildtype and variant alleles in the ADRB3 gene.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of the Glu27 and Arg64 polymorphisms of the ADRB2 and ADRB3 genes are not directly related to indices of the metabolic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: School for Physiology, Nutrition and Consumer Sciences, Faculty of Health Science, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
authors.forename: J M van
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rooyen
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Pretorius
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Britz
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Huisman
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Schutte
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Towers
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olckers
authors.forename: P E H
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: N T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Malan
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Malan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schutte
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D022702:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3 / Q000235:genetics*; D013851:Thinness
chemical_list: D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D020738:Leptin; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2; D022702:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-3