title: Gut bacteria alteration in obese people and its relationship with gene polymorphism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the differences in cultivable gut bacteria and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ2 (PPAR-γ2) gene Pro12Ala variation in obese and normal-weight Chinese people.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using culture methods, the amounts of Escherichia coli, Enterococci, Bacteroides, Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria and Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) in the feces of 52 obese participants [body mass index (BMI): ≥ 28 kg/m(2)] and 52 participants of normal-weight (BMI: 18.5-24 kg/m(2)) were obtained. Study participants completed comprehensive questionnaires and underwent clinical laboratory tests. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-PFLP) assay was used to analyze PPAR-γ2 gene Pro12Ala variation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The obese group exhibited a lower amount of C. perfringens (6.54 ± 0.65 vs 6.94 ± 0.57, P = 0.001) and Bacteroides (9.81 ± 0.58 vs 10.06 ± 0.39, P = 0.012) than their normal-weight counterparts. No major differences were observed in Pro12Ala genotype distribution between the two groups; however, obese individuals with a Pro/Ala genotype had a significantly lower level of Bacteroides (9.45 ± 0.62 vs 9.93 ± 0.51, P = 0.027) than those with a Pro/Pro genotype. In addition, the obese group demonstrated a higher stool frequency (U = 975, P < 0.001) and a looser stool (U = 1062, P = 0.015) than the normal-weight group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicated interactions among cultivable gut flora, host genetic factors and obese phenotype and this might be helpful for obesity prevention.
authors: Department of Medical Technology, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
authors: Hao-Jiang
authors: HJ
authors: Zuo
authors: Zhi-Mei
authors: ZM
authors: Xie
authors: Wei-Wei
authors: WW
authors: Zhang
authors: Yong-Ru
authors: YR
authors: Li
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Wang
authors: Xiao-Bei
authors: XB
authors: Ding
authors: Xiao-Fang
authors: XF
authors: Pei
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D047495:PPAR gamma