title: Associations of -308G/A polymorphism of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α gene and serum TNF-α levels with measures of obesity, intra-abdominal and subcutaneous abdominal fat, subclinical inflammation and insulin resistance in Asian Indians in north India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity is associated with high levels proinflammatory cytokines like tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), which may play an important role in the genesis of insulin resistance. We evaluated the relationship of -308G/A polymorphism of TNF-α gene with obesity and insulin resistance in Asian Indians in north India.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study included 151 apparently healthy individuals (79 males, 72 females) 18-50 yrs of age from New Delhi, India. Body composition by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and abdominal fat by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were measured. Biochemical measurements included OGTT, lipids, fasting insulin, hs-CRP and TNF-α levels. We analysed -308G/A polymorphism of TNF-α gene and studied its association with obesity and biochemical parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At comparable BMI, abdominal obesity was more prevalent in females (50%) as compared to males (20%). The wild genotype (GG) was present in 78.8%, GA in 17.9%, and AA in 3.3% subjects. Measures of body composition, abdominal fat distribution, lipids, insulin, hs-CRP and TNF-α levels were not influenced by the presence of -308G/A polymorphism. Serum TNF-α levels correlated significantly with fasting insulin in both genders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TNF-α levels correlate with fasting insulin but not with indicators of body composition in Asian Indians. The -308G/A polymorphism of TNF-α gene is not associated with differences in the serum levels of TNF-α in Asian Indians.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
authors.forename: Naval K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Vikram
authors.forename: Surya Prakash
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Bhatt
authors.forename: Bharat
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bhushan
authors.forename: Kalpana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Luthra
authors.forename: Anoop
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Misra
authors.forename: Pawan K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Poddar
authors.forename: Ravindra M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.forename: Randeep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Guleria
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017931:DNA Primers; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha