A clinical study on the relationship between the polymorphisms for LEPR, ApoE gene and the lipid metabolism in the children with simple obesity

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relationship between the polymorphisms for LEPR,ApoEgene and the lipid metabolism in the children with simple obesity. Methods Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and polyacrylamide gelelectrophoresis were used to analyze the variation of the LEPR gene and the ApoE gene of the obesity group (135 simple obesity children)and the control group (84 healthy children). At the same time, all children's serum triglyceride(TG), total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDLC), height and weight were measured, and their body mass index (BMI) were calculated. Results In our research, 3 genotypes of LEPR gene (A/A, G/A, G/G) and 4 genotypes of ApoE gene(E3/3, E2/3, E4/3, E4/2) were detected. Compared with control subjects, the A-allele frequencies of LEPR gene and the frequencies of ApoE gene variation at 3 943 nucleotide T → C transversion (e4) in simple obesity children are higher (P<0. 05). In simple obesity children homozygous for the LEPR A-allele, the levels of serum TC, TG,LDLC and BMI of ApoE e4 allele carriers are higher as well as HDLC being lower than those of e4 non-carrier(P<0. 05). Whereas in heterozygote simple obesity children, the levels of serum TG, LDLC and BMI of ApoE e4-allele carriers are significantly higher than those of e4 non-carrier (P<0. 05). Conclusion There are genotype polymorphisms of LEPR and ApoE genes which may affect the lipid metabolism and BMI in healthy and simple obesity children in our region. The variation frequencies of LEPR A-allele and ApoE e4-allele in simple obesity children are higher than those in healthy children. The LEPR gene coordinating with ApoE gene has effects on lipid metabolisms in children with obesity. Key words: LEPR gene; ApoE gene; polymorphism; obesity; child