FADS gene cluster polymorphisms: important modulators of fatty acid levels and their impact on atopic diseases.
Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) play an important role in several physiological processes and their concentration in phospholipids has been associated with several complex diseases, such as atopic disease. The level and composition of LC-PUFAs in the human body is highly dependent on their intake in the diet or on the intake of fatty acid precursors, which are endogenously elongated and desaturated to physiologically active LC-PUFAs. The most important enzymes in this reaction cascade are the Delta(5) and Delta(6) desaturase. Several studies in the last few years have revealed that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 2 desaturase encoding genes (FADS1 and FADS2) are highly associated with the concentration of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, showing that beside nutrition, genetic factors also play an important role in the regulation of LC-PUFAs. This review focuses on current knowledge of the impact of genetic polymorphisms on LC-PUFA metabolism and on their potential role in the development of atopic diseases.
Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Ingolstädter Landstrasse 1, Neuherberg, Germany. eva.lattka@helmholtz-muenchen.de
Eva
E
Lattka
Thomas
T
Illig
Joachim
J
Heinrich
Berthold
B
Koletzko
D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000235:genetics*; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases / Q000235:genetics*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3 / Q000378:metabolism; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D005810:Multigene Family; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
D000090943:Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase; D005227:Fatty Acids; D015525:Fatty Acids, Omega-3; D043371:Fatty Acids, Omega-6; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D044943:Fatty Acid Desaturases; C000716847:FADS1 protein, human; C533241:FADS2 protein, human