IRX3 is a genetic modifier for birth weight, adolescent obesity and transaminase metabolism.
IRX3 expression has been functionally associated in obesity-associated long-distance susceptibility loci, but the effect of the IRX3 genetic variants on human obesity and obesity-related metabolism remains uncertain.



To determine the genetic role of IRX3, we conducted a molecular epidemiological analysis using three haplotype tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; rs8053360, rs3751723 and rs12445085) and one nonsynonymous SNP (rs1126960) at the IRX3 locus in 333 junior and senior high school students from a northeast Chinese population.



We identified significant associations between IRX3 SNPs and birth weight, body mass index (BMI), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and AST/ALT ratio. The rs8053360 CC and rs1126960 GG genotypes were associated with increased birth weight and BMI, especially in females. Individuals with the rs12445085 TT genotype had significantly higher levels of AST and ALT, whereas individuals with the rs1126960 GG genotype had a significantly lower AST/ALT ratio than did individuals with other genotypes. However, no significant relationships were found between any of the IRX3 SNPs and metabolic syndrome or diabetes.



IRX3 genetic variants associate with birth weight, BMI and AST/ALT-related transaminase metabolism, supporting the role of IRX3 as an obesity-associated susceptibility gene.
Department of Endocrinology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
C
C
Liu
Department of Applied Psychology, Humanities and Management Colleges, Guangdong Medical University, Guangdong, China.
C
C
Chu
Department of Endocrinology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
J
J
Zhang
No. 2 Department of Rheumatology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China.
D
D
Wu
Department of Endocrinology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
D
D
Xu
Department of Endocrinology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
P
P
Li
Department of Endocrinology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
Y
Y
Chen
Department of Endocrinology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
B
B
Liu
Department of Endocrinology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
L
L
Pei
Department of Endocrinology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
L
L
Zhang
Institute of Bioinformatics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
S
S
Liu
Institute of Bioinformatics, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
T
T
Qi
Biostatistics Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA.|Arkansas Children's Research Institute, Little Rock, AR, USA.
X-Y
XY
Lou
Department of Endocrinology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.
L
L
Li
D000293:Adolescent; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000235:genetics*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000235:genetics; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C501598:IRX3 protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
Birth weight; IRX3; obesity; polymorphism; transaminase metabolism