title: Association between leptin gene G-2548A polymorphism with metabolic syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a serious public health problem. It is an important risk factor of cardiovascular disease in developed countries. Adipose tissue considered as an organ that releases a variety of molecules referred to adipocytokines such as leptin. Polymorphism of their related genes may play an important role in development of MetS. The aim of this study was to determine the association of leptin gene-2548G/A (LEP-2548G/A) polymorphism with lipid profile in subjects with and without Mets.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case/control study a frequency of LEP-2548G/A single nucleotide polymorphism was determined between 200 patients (142 women and 58 men) and 200 controls (122 women and 78 men). Both groups were selected randomly from Hamadan city, Iran. Blood samples were collected then followed by routine biochemical analysis, DNA extraction and serum leptin measurements. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was applied to identify LEP-2548G/A genotypes. Statistical analyses were applied using SPSS software version 10. Continuous variables were presented as means± SD and compared by independent sample t-test. Variables without normal distribution compared through Mann-Whitney U test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both groups, a significant difference was observed between biochemical factors and leptin concentration. Serum leptin concentration was more in females than males. No statistical significant difference was detected in the frequency of LEP-2548G/A polymorphism between both MetS and healthy groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, it is concluded that frequency of LEP G-2548A polymorphism in Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and healthy subjects was not significantly different and more research with large sample size is needed in this area.
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran ; Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Taghi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hassanzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Monireh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maleki
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
authors.forename: Massoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saidijam
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomolecular Science, School of Pharmacy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paoli
keywords: -2548G/A polymorphism; Leptin; metabolic syndrome