ACE, APOA5, and MTP Gene Polymorphisms Analysis in Relation to Triglyceride and Insulin Levels in Pediatric Patients

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Obesity is a complex, chronic, and multifactorial disease that has become a major, and worldwide, public health problem contributing to an increased number of pathologies, including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, and metabolic syndrome, thus suggesting a commolon origin. A diet high in sugar and fats coupled with a sedentary lifestyle has a major role in the development of obesity. However, the genetic background has also been associated with body fat accumulation. The aim of this study was to assess the effect ofACE-rs4646994, APOA5-rs662799, and MTP-rs1800591 gene polymorphisms on clinical and biochemical parameters and to evaluate the association with body phenotypes in children and adolescent population of Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico.

METHODS

Anthropometric, clinical, biochemical parameters and BMI were obtained from 405 children and adolescents. The BMI was used to determine the body phenotype. The rs4646994 gene polymorphism was determined by PCR, whereas rs662799 and rs1800591 were determined by PCR-RFLP. The obtained results were analyzed to determine their association of these single nucleotide polymorphisms with body phenotype and biochemical parameters.

RESULTS

TT genotype for APOA5-rs662799 was associated with increased levels of HDL-C in the analyzed population (p <0.05). The ACErs4646994gene polymorphism is associated with high Insulin levels, HOMAIR index, and triglyceride levels, mainly when presenting a I/I genotype (p <0.05).

CONCLUSION

The polymorphic allele of the ACE gene is capable of modulating triglyceride levels, insulin levels and HOMA-IR index in the evaluated population; it must be highlighted that this has not been reported in other studied populations elsewhere.

Association between PTPN22 C1858T polymorphism and alopecia areata risk

Alopecia areata (AA) is a skin condition in which hair is lost from certain or all areas of the body. This condition has been described as an immune-mediated complex genetic disease, characterized by the presence of lymphocytes that are directed to the hair follicles in the anagen phase. The gene encoding the protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-receptor type 22 (PTPN22), which is exclusively expressed in immune cells, has been considered as a risk factor associated with a number of autoimmune diseases. In AA, the single nucleotide polymorphism, rs2476601, has been identified as a risk factor in several populations. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of PTPN22 C1858T inherited genetic polymorphism on the predisposition to severe forms of AA, in a case-control study on individuals. The study included 64 unrelated patients diagnosed with several types of AA, as well as 225 healthy unrelated subjects. The DNA samples were genotyped for PTPN22 C1858T polymorphism using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. Causal associations were determined by χ² test and their respective odds ratio (OR) was assessed in a 2×2 contingency table. The results demonstrated a significant association of the T allele [P=0.040; OR=3.196; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.094-10.279] and the CT genotype (P=0.038; OR=3.313; 95% CI, 1.008-10.892) with patchy AA. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggested the possible involvement of the T allele of the PTPN22 C1858T SNP as a genetic risk factor for this type of AA in the population studied.