Leptin and leptin receptor polymorphisms, plasma leptin levels and obesity in Tunisian volunteers

Abstract

Adipose tissue is an important endocrine organ that secretes a number of adipokines, like Leptin (LEP). The aim this study was to investigate the prevalence of single nucleotide polymorphisms in LEP gene (LEP 3′UTR A/C, −2548 G/A) and LEPR (K109R and Q223R) and their association with Leptin level and obesity. We recruited 169 non‐obese (body mass index [BMI] = 24.51‐3.69 kg/m2) and 160 obese (BMI = 36‐4.78 kg/m2) patients. Genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism, BMI was calculated, and Leptin level was measured by ELISA. Statistical analyses were performed by spss19.0. According to LEP 3′UTR A/C polymorphism, AC and CC genotype carriers had higher Leptin levels than AA genotype carriers, respectively, 31[0.05‐148.8] (P = .008) vs 41[0.05‐111.6] (P = .003). The K109R polymorphism was associated with obesity (P = .025) and seems to significantly decrease the LEP levels (P < .001). Concerning LEP G2548A polymorphism, our results showed that the OR of obesity associated with 2548 AA/GG was 1.87[1.106‐2.78] P = .028 vs 1.41[1.035‐1.85] P = .045 for 223AA/GG polymorphism. In our haplotype analysis, one haplotype seems to be the more protective and one other seems to be the highest risk to obesity. LEP 3′UTR A/C and LEPR K109R polymorphisms were associated with Leptin level and obesity.