Association of CHRNA2 polymorphisms with overweight/obesity and clinical characteristics in a Korean population.
BACKGROUND
Genes correlated with nicotine may be important in obesity because of the role of nicotine in food intake.


METHODS
To determine if single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha2 subunit gene (CHRNA2) are associated with overweight/obesity, 156 non-obese and 200 overweight/obese Koreans were genotyped for four CHRNA2 SNPs using an Affymetrix Array Chip.


RESULTS
Of four SNPs, only one, rs2043063, was associated with overweight/obesity in the study population (co-dominant, p=0.049; dominant, p=0.027). Associations between the significant SNP and obesity-related clinical characteristics were observed, but these were not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The CHRNA2 rs2043063 SNP might be a risk factor for overweight/obesity in Koreans. Therefore, further studies are needed to investigate whether mutations or common polymorphisms of the CHRNA2 gene represent a risk factor for obesity.
Kim
Jinju
J
Department of Oriental Physiology, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea. shdwer@khu.ac.kr
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors
C436489:CHRNA2 protein, human; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic