Abstract
BackgroundMammalian circadian clocks control multiple physiological events. The principal circadian clock generates seasonal variations in behavior as well. Seasonality elevates the risk for metabolic syndrome, and evidence suggests that disruption of the clockwork can lead to alterations in metabolism. Our aim was to analyze whether circadian clock polymorphisms contribute to seasonal variations in behavior and to the metabolic syndrome.MethodsWe genotyped 39 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) from 19 genes which were either canonical circadian clock genes or genes related to the circadian clockwork from 517 individuals drawn from a nationwide population-based sample. Associations between these SNPs and seasonality, metabolic syndrome and its risk factors were analyzed using regression analysis. The p-values were corrected for multiple testing.ResultsOur findings link circadian gene variants to the risk factors of the metabolic syndrome, since Npas2 was associated with hypertension (P-value corrected for multiple testing = 0.0024) and Per2 was associated with high fasting blood glucose (P-value corrected for multiple testing = 0.049).ConclusionOur findings support the view that relevant relationships between circadian clocks and the metabolic syndrome in humans exist.
Highlights
Mammalian circadian clocks control multiple physiological events
Each polymorphic single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) was analyzed in relation to seasonality and to metabolic syndrome risk factors
P-value P-value corrected for multiple testing Beta-coefficient 95% confidence intervals (CI)
Summary
Mammalian circadian clocks control multiple physiological events. The principal circadian clock generates seasonal variations in behavior as well. Our aim was to analyze whether circadian clock polymorphisms contribute to seasonal variations in behavior and to the metabolic syndrome. Circadian clocks regulate the timing of biological events including the sleep-wake cycle, energy metabolism, and secretion of hormones. The principal clock conducting the circadian system is located in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the anterior hypothalamus. Seasonal variations in behavior are generated by the principal clock as well [2]. Light exposures stimulate the principal clock through pathways from the retina, and the most important cues for reset of the principal circadian clock are the light-dark transitions, while the peripheral clocks are set by metabolic signals in response to feeding cycles [3]. The (page number not for citation purposes)
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