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A novel gene THSD7A is associated with obesity

International Journal of Obesity volume 39, pages 1662–1665 (2015)Cite this article

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Abstract

Body mass index (BMI) is a non-invasive measurement of obesity. It is commonly used for assessing adiposity and obesity-related risk prediction. Genetic differences between ethnic groups are important factors, which contribute to the variation in phenotypic effects. India inhabited by the first out-of-Africa human population and the contemporary Indian populations are admixture of two ancestral populations; ancestral north Indians (ANI) and ancestral south Indians (ASI). Although ANI are related to Europeans, ASI are not related to any group outside Indian-subcontinent. Hence, we expect novel genetic loci associated with BMI. In association analysis, we found eight genic SNPs in extreme of distribution (P⩽3.75 × 10−5), of which WWOX has already been reported to be associated with obesity-related traits hence excluded from further study. Interestingly, we observed rs1526538, an intronic SNP of THSD7A; a novel gene significantly associated with obesity (P=2.88 × 10−5, 8.922 × 10−6 and 2.504 × 10−9 in discovery, replication and combined stages, respectively). THSD7A is neural N-glycoprotein, which promotes angiogenesis and it is well known that angiogenesis modulates obesity, adipose metabolism and insulin sensitivity, hence our result find a correlation. This information can be used for drug target, early diagnosis of obesity and treatment.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to Government of India; Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India (PRNSA/ADV/AYURVEDA/4/2007). KT was also supported by CSIR Network project—GENESIS (BSC0121), Government of India. We acknowledge the help of Dr Ketaki Bapat for her constant support throughout the project tenure.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad, India

    S Nizamuddin, P Govindaraj, S Saxena, M Kashyap, A Mishra, S Singh & K Thangaraj

  2. School of Life Sciences, Manipal University, Karnataka, India

    H Rotti, R Raval, P M Gopinath, K Satyamoorthy & M S Valiathan

  3. Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Ayurveda, Karnataka, India

    J Nayak, B K Bhat & B V Prasanna

  4. Sinhgad College of Engineering, Maharashtra, India

    V R Dhumal, S Bhale, K S Joshi & A P Dedge

  5. Foundation for Revitalization of Local Health Traditions, Karnataka, India

    R Bharadwaj & G G Gangadharan

  6. Department of Statistics, Manipal University, Karnataka, India

    S Nair

  7. Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences, University of Pune, Maharashtra, India

    B Patwardhan

  8. Department of Molecular Reproduction, Development and Genetics, Indian Institute of Science, Karnataka, India

    P Kondaiah

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  1. S Nizamuddin
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  2. P Govindaraj
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  16. R Bharadwaj
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  17. G G Gangadharan
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  19. P M Gopinath
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Correspondence to K Thangaraj.

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Nizamuddin, S., Govindaraj, P., Saxena, S. et al. A novel gene THSD7A is associated with obesity. Int J Obes 39, 1662–1665 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2015.144

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