Association between leptin receptor (LEPR) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene variants and obesity: a case-control study.
BACKGROUND
Human and animal studies provide evidence for a relevant role of the leptin receptor (LEPR) and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) genes in energy homeostasis.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the association between human LEPR and BDNF genetic variants with adult obesity.


METHODS
Case-control study in Pamplona (Navarra, Spain) with adult obese subjects (n = 159) and normal weight controls (n = 154). Four common polymorphisms of the LEPR gene (Lys109Arg, Gln223Arg, Ser343Ser, Lys656Asn) and 17 variants of the BDNF gene, including the Val66Met variant, were genotyped.


RESULTS
No significant case-control differences were found in allele/genotype frequencies after adjusting for relevant co-variates. Haplotype analysis did not detect any significant association between LEPR or BDNF variants and obesity. No associations were found between LEPR variants and serum leptin levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results do not support a major role of LEPR or BDNF common polymorphisms in multifactorial adult obesity.
Marti
A
A
Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Physiology and Toxicology, University of Navarra, 31080 Pamplona, Navarra, Spain. amarti@unav.es
Santos
J L
JL
Gratacos
M
M
Moreno-Aliaga
M J
MJ
Maiz
A
A
Martinez
J A
JA
Estivill
X
X
D000328:Adult; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics*; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000235:genetics*; D012016:Reference Values
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D054411:Receptors, Leptin