[Leptin gene C2549A polymorphism in minority Hui and Uygur children with obesity].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship of leptin gene polymorphism with obesity in ethnic minority Hui and Uygur children in China.


METHODS
Sixty-eight ethnic minority (35 Hui and 33 Uygur) children with obesity and 69 age-matched minority (36 Hui and 33 Uygur) children without obesity were recruited from six primary schools in the sub-urban areas of Urumqi. Venous blood was sampled from all subjects after fasting for 12 hours. Leptin gene C2549A polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism methods. Blood concentrations of lipids, leptin and insulin were measured with biochemical methods and radioimmunoassys, respectively.


RESULTS
In the 137 children tested, the prevalence of AA, AC and CC genotype was 9.5%, 33.6% and 56.9%, respectively. A allele frequency was significantly different between the two ethnic (i.e. Hui and Uygur) groups (P<0.05). A allele frequency and AA+ AC genotype frequency were not significantly different between obese and non-obese children in both ethnic groups (P>0.05). Blood leptin levels were not significantly different between obese and non-obese children with an AA+AC or CC genotype in both ethnic groups (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Leptin gene polymorphisms exist in Hui and Uygur children. The C2549A polymorphism is not significantly associated with the prevalence of obesity in both Hui and Uygur children.
Department of Pediatrics, First Hospital Affiliated to Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, China. xupeiru126@126.com.
Ji-Hong
JH
Zhang
Wen-Juan
WJ
Zeng
Pei-Ru
PR
Xu
Wei-Ping
WP
Zhang
D002648:Child; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
D020738:Leptin; D008055:Lipids