Melanocortin-4 receptor gene polymorphism and the level of physical activity in men (HALS Study)

Genetic variants related to physical activity or sedentary behaviour: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Research shows that part of the variation in physical activity and sedentary behaviour may be explained by genetic factors. Identifying genetic variants associated with physical activity and sedentary behaviour can improve causal inference in physical activity research. The aim of this systematic review was to provide an updated overview of the evidence of genetic variants associated with physical activity or sedentary behaviour.

METHODS

We performed systematic literature searches in PubMed and Embase for studies published from 1990 to April 2020 using keywords relating to "physical activity", "exercise", "sedentariness" and "genetics". Physical activity phenotypes were either based on self-report (e.g., questionnaires, diaries) or objective measures (e.g., accelerometry, pedometer). We considered original studies aiming to i) identify new genetic variants associated with physical activity or sedentary behaviour (i.e., genome wide association studies [GWAS]), or ii) assess the association between known genetic variants and physical activity or sedentary behaviour (i.e., candidate gene studies). Study selection, data extraction, and critical appraisal were carried out by independent researchers, and risk of bias and methodological quality was assessed for all included studies.

RESULTS

Fifty-four out of 5420 identified records met the inclusion criteria. Six of the included studies were GWAS, whereas 48 used a candidate gene approach. Only one GWAS and three candidate gene studies were considered high-quality. The six GWAS discovered up to 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with physical activity or sedentariness that reached genome-wide significance. In total, the candidate gene studies reported 30 different genes that were associated (p < 0.05) with physical activity or sedentary behaviour. SNPs in or close to nine candidate genes were associated with physical activity or sedentary behaviour in more than one study.

CONCLUSION

GWAS have reported up to 10 loci associated with physical activity or sedentary behaviour. Candidate gene studies have pointed to some interesting genetic variants, but few have been replicated. Our review highlights the need for high-quality GWAS in large population-based samples, and with objectively assessed phenotypes, in order to establish robust genetic instruments for physical activity and sedentary behaviour. Furthermore, consistent replications in GWAS are needed to improve credibility of genetic variants.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Prospero CRD42019119456 .

Effects of MC4R, FTO, and NMB gene variants to obesity, physical activity, and eating behavior phenotypes

Obesity is a major contributory factor of morbidity and mortality. It has been suggested that biological systems may be involved in the tendency to be and to remain physically inactive also behaviors such as food and beverage preferences and nutrient intake may at least partially genetically determined. Consequently, besides environment, genetic factors may also contribute to the level of physical activity and eating behaviors thus effect obesity. Therefore the aim of this study is to investigate the effect of various gene mutations on obesity, physical activity levels and eating behavior phenotypes. One hundred patients and 100 controls were enrolled to the study. Physical activity levels were measured with an actical acceloremeter device. Eating behaviors were evaluated using Three-Factor Eating questionnaire (TFEQ). Associations between eating behavior scores and physical characteristics were also evaluated. The information about other obesity risk factors were also collected. Mutations were investigated with PCR, direct sequencing and Real-Time PCR. rs1051168, rs8050146 -2778C > T mutations were found statistically significant in patients, rs1121980 was found statistically significant in controls. 21 mutations were found in MC4R and near MC4R of which 18 of them are novel and 8 of them cause amino acid change. In addition, it was found that, some obesity related factors and questions of TFEQ are associated with various investigated gene mutations. Any relation between gene mutations and physical activity levels were not detected. It is thought that, due to the genotype data and eating behaviors, it may be possible to recommend patients for proper eating patterns to prevent obesity. © 2016 IUBMB Life, 68(10):806-816, 2016.

Behavioral and Environmental Modification of the Genetic Influence on Body Mass Index: A Twin Study

Body mass index (BMI) has a strong genetic basis, with a heritability around 0.75, but is also influenced by numerous behavioral and environmental factors. Aspects of the built environment (e.g., environmental walkability) are hypothesized to influence obesity by directly affecting BMI, by facilitating or inhibiting behaviors such as physical activity that are related to BMI, or by suppressing genetic tendencies toward higher BMI. The present study investigated relative influences of physical activity and walkability on variance in BMI using 5079 same-sex adult twin pairs (70 % monozygotic, 65 % female). High activity and walkability levels independently suppressed genetic variance in BMI. Estimating their effects simultaneously, however, suggested that the walkability effect was mediated by activity. The suppressive effect of activity on variance in BMI was present even with a tendency for low-BMI individuals to select into environments that require higher activity levels. Overall, our results point to community- or macro-level interventions that facilitate individual-level behaviors as a plausible approach to addressing the obesity epidemic among US adults.

Polymorphic variants of neurotransmitter receptor genes may affect sexual function in aging males: data from the HALS study

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Human behavior is influenced by a number of brain neurotransmitters. Central dopamine, serotonin and melanocortin systems have special importance for male sexual function. We searched for associations between male aging symptoms and polymorphic sites of serotonin (5-HTR1B), melanocortin (MC4R) and dopamine (DRD2, DRD4) receptors.

METHODS

In a population-based sample, genotyping of 5-HTR1B (polymorphism: G861C), MC4R (polymorphisms: C-2745T, Val103Ile), DRD2 (polymorphism: C313T) and DRD4 (polymorphism: 48-bp VNTR) was performed in 387 healthy men. The Aging Males' Symptoms (AMS) scale was used to evaluate specific ailments of aging men. We analyzed answers to questions from the AMS scale. Five points of the questionnaire addressed sexual symptoms of the aging male: feeling of passing one's peak, decrease in beard growth, decrease in ability/frequency to perform sexually, decrease in the number of morning erections, and decrease in sexual desire/libido (lacking pleasure in sex, lacking desire for sexual intercourse). Relations between reported symptoms and variants of the polymorphic sites of the studied genes were assessed.

RESULTS

After adjusting for confounding factors (education, arterial hypertension, physical activity, weight, waist circumference) an association between the sexual dimension of AMS and genetic variants of 5-HTR1B G861C (p = 0.04) was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Variability of neurotransmitter receptor genes may be associated with sexual symptoms of aging in men.

Physical activity and sex modulate obesity risk linked to 3111T/C gene variant of the CLOCK gene in an elderly population: the SUN Project

Genetic factors may interact with physical activity levels to modify obesity risk. Our aim was to explore the influence of rs1801260 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (3111T/C) of CLOCK gene on obesity risk, and to examine its potential interaction with lifestyle factors in an elderly population within the SUN ("Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra") Project. Subjects (n = 903, aged 69 ± 6 yrs) were recruited from the SUN Project. DNA was obtained from saliva, whereas lifestyle and dietary data were collected by validated self-report questionnaires. Genotype was assessed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) plus allele discrimination. A significant interaction was observed between the 3111T/C SNP of CLOCK gene and sex for overweight/obesity risk (p for sex × CLOCK interaction <.001). Our results showed that women carrying the C allele of CLOCK gene had a marginally significant lower risk of overweight/obesity compared with noncarrier-TT-subjects (odds ratio [OR]: .61, 95% confidence interval [CI]: .36-1.04; p = .069). Moreover, this association of the C allele with a decreased overweight/obesity risk might be enhanced in those women with a high physical activity level. Women practicing more than 16.8 metabolic equivalent tasks (hours per week) had a significantly lower overweight/obesity risk (OR: .36, 95% CI: .17-.79; p = .011). Furthermore, a significant interaction between the 3111T/C gene variant and physical activity (PA) for overweight/obesity risk was observed but only in women (p for PA × CLOCK interaction <.050). In conclusion, it appears that physical activity levels may act by modifying the association of the 3111T/C SNP (rs1801260) of the CLOCK gene with overweight/obesity risk in elderly women in the SUN Project.

Missense mutations and polymorphisms of the MC4R gene in Polish obese children and adolescents in relation to the relative body mass index

Extensive studies of the MC4R gene polymorphism showed that, among numerous variants, there are mutations responsible for monogenic obesity, as well as polymorphisms negatively correlated with the risk of obesity. In this report, we present the first studies of the whole coding sequence of the MC4R gene in 243 Polish obese children and adolescents (the mean relative body mass index [RBMI] was 163.6). In addition, 101 non-obese adults were also analyzed. Direct sequencing facilitated the identification of six missense (K73R, V103I, T112M, S127L, M215L, and I251L) and one silent (c.756 C > T) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Two non-synonymous polymorphisms (K73R and M215L) appeared to be novel and one was found in obese patients (M215L, one patient) and one in non-obese adults (K73R, one person). The overall frequency of non-synonymous variant carriers reached 4.1% and 6.9% in obese patients and non-obese adults, respectively. Only one obesity-associated variant (127L) was found in two obese patients (0.82%) and in two non-obese adults (1.98%). The obesity-protecting variants (103I and 251L) appeared to be the most common in both groups: 3.3% and 4.0%, respectively. It was also observed that the RBMI in obese children and adolescents carrying the minor variants did not differ significantly from the non-carriers; however, the expected trends for the associated and protecting variants were observed. We conclude that the contribution of the MC4R gene variants to the pathogenesis of obesity in Polish children and adolescents is low.