Leptin Gene Mutations in Morbidly Obese and Severely Lean Individuals from Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

Obesity has become an epidemic of modern world. Although 6 mutations in the leptin gene have been found to be associated with congenital leptin deficiency, leptin gene polymorphism has not been studied in adult morbidly obese and severely lean individuals. This study involves comparison of obese and lean individuals. In this research leptin gene mutations were studied in both morbidly obese and severely lean adults. Studied individuals belong to Punjab, region of Pakistan. Present study included 25 consenting morbidly obese (BMI>30 kg/m2) and 25 severely lean (BMI<18 kg/m2) individuals from Punjab, Pakistan. By using organic method DNA extracted and PCR was done to amplify leptin gene with the help of specific primers. The sequence of leptin gene was analyzed by using SSCP, heteroduplex analysis and automated Sanger sequencing. No genetic mutation was detected in leptin gene in studied morbidly obese and severely lean individuals. The result suggested that in Pakistani population leptin gene may not be a major cause for obesity and leanness. Other genetics as well as environmental factors may be involved.