title: Association analyses of the INSIG2 polymorphism in the obesity and cholesterol levels of Korean populations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While INSIG2 has been reported to be associated with BMI in many populations, conflicting results have prevented consensus over its role. In analyses of mice and cell cultures the gene has been found to be involved in the regulation of cholesterol synthesis; however, no relationship has been found with cholesterol metabolism in human epidemiological research. Therefore, this study attempts to assess the effect of rs7566605 near INSIG2 on both obesity- and cholesterol-related traits in Koreans.
  
  
  METHODS
  The rs7566605 polymorphism was genotyped with 2,364 Koreans, and associations with obesity- and cholesterol-related traits were analyzed statistically via an ANOVA or T-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Replication of an association with BMI, WHR, fat mass, fat percent, and abdominal fat area failed, and the C allele of rs7566605 was not associated significantly with total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, or triglyceride. However, it was found in a meta-analysis of a dominant model that the C allele of rs7566605 appeared to affect the level of the total cholesterol, especially in female subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We failed to show associations of rs7566605 with cholesterol- and obesity-related phenotypes, although we newly suggest the possible involvement of INSIG2 with the plasma level of the total cholesterol in women.
authors.affiliation: Division of Constitutional Medicine Research, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, 483 Exporo, Daejeon, Republic of Korea. scha@kiom.re.kr
authors.forename: Seongwon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Imhoi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: Sun Mi
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Byung Lae
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kil Soo
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae-Ryong
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyoung Doo
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Jong Yeol
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C467727:INSIG2 protein, human; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D002784:Cholesterol