Gender-specific association of the rs6499640 polymorphism in the FTO gene with plasma lipid levels in Chinese children

Liwang Gao,Hong Cheng,Lijun Wu,Meixian Zhang,Xiaoyuan Zhao,Jie Mi

doi:10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2017-0107

Liwang Gao, Hong Cheng + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2017-0107

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Abstract

The fat mass- and obesity-associated gene (FTO) is significantly associated with obesity, but the associations of FTO with obesity-related traits are not fully described. We aimed to investigate the association of the FTO single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs6499640 with lipid levels in Chinese children. A total of 3503 children aged 6-18 years were included in the present study. Lipid levels were analyzed and the SNP rs6499640 was genotyped using the TaqMan Allelic Discrimination Assay. Statistically significant associations were found between rs6499640 and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (p = 0.008), total cholesterol (TC) (p = 0.005), and triglycerides (TG) (p < 0.001) in girls under a dominant model adjusted for age and BMI. No statistical significance was found between the SNP and lipid levels in boys. We demonstrated for the first time that the SNP rs6499640 in FTO is associated with LDL-C, TC, and TG in Chinese girls. Our study identified a new risk locus for lipid levels in children.

Highlights

In recent years, the prevalence of dyslipidemia and obesity in children and adolescents has increased dramatically and these two diseases have been major challenges to public health (Keith et al, 2006; Miller et al, 2011; Stone et al, 2014; Jacobson et al, 2015)
We aimed to investigate the association of the fat mass- and obesity-associated gene (FTO) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs6499640 with lipid levels in Chinese children
We examined the SNP rs6499640 in FTO in a Chinese children population

Summary

Introduction

The prevalence of dyslipidemia and obesity in children and adolescents has increased dramatically and these two diseases have been major challenges to public health (Keith et al, 2006; Miller et al, 2011; Stone et al, 2014; Jacobson et al, 2015). Childhood high lipid levels and obesity strongly predispose to adult cardiovascular disease (CVD) and obesity (Tounian et al, 2001; Simmonds et al, 2015). Lipid levels and obesity are complex conditions influenced by genetic and environmental factors (Kathiresan et al, 2008). And twin studies have indicated that more than 50% of changes in lipid levels is ascribed to genetic factors (Kort et al, 2000). Thereafter, many of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of FTO have been confirmed to be associated with lipid levels (Scuteri et al, 2007; Wang et al, 2012). Our previous study suggested that the FTO SNP rs6499640 was associated with obesity in Chinese children (Wu L et al, 2010). The associations of this SNP with lipid levels are not described

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