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Frequency of and interaction between polymorphisms in the β3-adrenergic receptor and in uncoupling proteins 1 and 2 and obesity in Germans

International Journal of Obesity volume 24, pages 1239–1245 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of polymorphisms in the genes for β3-adrenergic receptor (β3-AR) and in uncoupling proteins 1 and 2 (UCP-1, UCP-2) in obesity.

DESIGN: Association study with three polymorphisms and obesity.

SUBJECTS: Two hundred and thirty-six morbidly obese patients who underwent gastric banding surgery, 381 patients from the medical clinic and 198 healthy blood donors.

MEASUREMENTS: The frequencies of the W64R in β3-AR, the −3826A→G in UCP-1 and the 45 bp insertion in the 3′ untranslated region of exon 8 in UCP-2 polymorphisms were determined.

RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the frequencies of the β3-AR and UCP-1 polymorphisms between obese (body mass index, BMI>30 kg/m2) and lean subjects. Lean, but not obese, carriers of the R allele of β3-AR had a significantly higher BMI. The mean age of obese subjects (excluding diabetics) who were carriers of the G allele of the UCP-1 polymorphism, 36 y, was significantly younger than wild-type, 40 y (P=0.007). This effect was not seen in lean subjects. The effect of the G allele on the mean age of obese subjects was more apparent in subjects who were also carriers of the R allele of the β3-AR polymorphism. The frequency of the ins allele of UCP-2 was significantly higher in obese subjects, 0.31, than in lean, 0.24 (P=0.002) and carriers of the ins allele had a significantly higher BMI, 38 vs 35 (P=0.005). There was no association between any of the polymorphisms and type II diabetes.

CONCLUSION: In a German population, there was no association between the W64R in β3-AR or the −3826A→G in UCP-1 polymorphisms and obesity. However, they act synergistically to accelerate the development of obesity. The 45 bp insertion in the 3′ untranslated region of exon 8 in UCP-2 polymorphism is associated with obesity.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr Wittkopf of the Blood Transfusion Centre, Universitätskrankenhaus Eppendorf, Hamburg for provision of the control blood samples. This work was supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft to DE (Ev 29/2-1) and AM (Ma 1101/4-1) and KliFo 258/10/2.

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  1. Medizinische Klinik, Universitätskrankenhaus Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany

    D Evans, S Minouchehr, G Hagemann, WA Mann, D Wendt & U Beisiegel

  2. Klinik für Allgemeinchirurgie, Evangelisches und Johanniter Klinikum, Dinslaken, Germany

    A Wolf

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  1. D Evans
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Correspondence to D Evans.

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Evans, D., Minouchehr, S., Hagemann, G. et al. Frequency of and interaction between polymorphisms in the β3-adrenergic receptor and in uncoupling proteins 1 and 2 and obesity in Germans. Int J Obes 24, 1239–1245 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0801402

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