title: Associations of VCAM-1 gene polymorphisms with obesity and inflammation markers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Among the inflammatory mediators involved in the pathogenesis of obesity, cell adhesion molecules such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) stand out. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 gene variants with obesity and to investigate the associations between these genetic polymorphisms and CRP, UA, and WBC count.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four SNPs of the VCAM-1 gene (rs3176860, rs2392221, rs3917010 and rs3176879) and two SNPs of the ICAM-1 gene (rs281432 and rs5498) were analyzed in 181 control (18 < BMI < 23) and 144 obese (BMI ≥ 25) subjects. The SNPs were genotyped by direct sequencing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In allele frequency analysis, the G allelic frequency of rs3176860 in the VCAM-1 gene was lower in the obese group (30.9%) than in the controls (41.2%) (P = 0.007). The C allelic frequency of rs3917010 was lower in the obese group (18.1%) than in the control (25.1%) (P = 0.03). In the haplotype analysis of VCAM-1 gene, the ht1 (ACA) was higher and ht2 (GCC) was lower in the obese subjects than in the controls (P = 0.0057 and P = 0.037, respectively). In the obese group, participants carrying the G allele of rs3176860 of the VCAM-1 gene showed a higher percentage of segmented neutrophils and CRP levels than those carrying only the A allele (P = 0.028 and P = 0.042, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that VCAM-1 gene variants may be related to obesity and inflammatory markers in the Korean population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, 1095 Dalgubeoldaero, Dalseo-Gu, Daegu, 42601, Korea.
authors.forename: Gyeong Im
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: College of Nursing, Keimyung University, 1095 Dalgubeoldaero, Dalseo-Gu, Daegu, 42601, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Keimyung University, 1095 Dalgubeoldaero, Dalseo-Gu, Daegu, 42601, Korea. dhshin825@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Dong Hoon
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D014527:Uric Acid; D002097:C-Reactive Protein
keywords: ICAM-1; Inflammation; Obesity; VCAM-1