BACKGROUND: A polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) gene SLC6A4 shows functionally important 44-bp insertion/deletion alleles: long (L) and short (S). We have previously found that the S allele is a genetic risk factor for obesity in adolescents. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the S/L variant of the SLC6A4 gene is associated with BMI as a continuous trait and also with obesity in a large sample of adult men of European ancestry included in a cross-sectional, population-based study. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: The study group was composed of individuals who were randomly recruited from a factory in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area and who underwent an annual health examination. RESULTS: We observed that among 1,329 unrelated subjects, aged 34.6 +/- 0.3 years, age-adjusted BMI values (expressed as mean +/- s.e.) for each genotype showed statistically significant differences across genotypic groups (LL: 25.4 +/- 0.2, LS: 26.0 +/- 0.1 and SS: 26.7 +/- 0.2, P < 0.0002). In addition, association tests showed that the 5-HTTLPR-genotype distribution was significantly different between 692 lean (BMI < or = 25 kg/m2) and 637 obese (BMI > or = 27 kg/m2) individuals. We found a 1.36 odds ratio (OR) (95% CI 1.01-1.85) for obesity in SS carriers in comparison with LL carriers, P = 0.026. DISCUSSION: In conclusion, our findings indicate that 5-HTTLPR polymorphism may be linked with BMI and also with obesity and/or overweight in adult male population, reinforcing the role of the serotonin transporter as a risk factor for the obesity phenotype and suggesting potential new avenues for its pharmacological treatment.
BACKGROUND: A polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) gene SLC6A4 shows functionally important 44-bp insertion/deletion alleles: long (L) and short (S). We have previously found that the S allele is a genetic risk factor for obesity in adolescents. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the S/L variant of the SLC6A4 gene is associated with BMI as a continuous trait and also with obesity in a large sample of adult men of European ancestry included in a cross-sectional, population-based study. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: The study group was composed of individuals who were randomly recruited from a factory in the Buenos Aires metropolitan area and who underwent an annual health examination. RESULTS: We observed that among 1,329 unrelated subjects, aged 34.6 +/- 0.3 years, age-adjusted BMI values (expressed as mean +/- s.e.) for each genotype showed statistically significant differences across genotypic groups (LL: 25.4 +/- 0.2, LS: 26.0 +/- 0.1 and SS: 26.7 +/- 0.2, P < 0.0002). In addition, association tests showed that the 5-HTTLPR-genotype distribution was significantly different between 692 lean (BMI < or = 25 kg/m2) and 637 obese (BMI > or = 27 kg/m2) individuals. We found a 1.36 odds ratio (OR) (95% CI 1.01-1.85) for obesity in SS carriers in comparison with LL carriers, P = 0.026. DISCUSSION: In conclusion, our findings indicate that 5-HTTLPR polymorphism may be linked with BMI and also with obesity and/or overweight in adult male population, reinforcing the role of the serotonin transporter as a risk factor for the obesity phenotype and suggesting potential new avenues for its pharmacological treatment.
Authors: Dirk Wallmeier; Julia K Winkler; Thomas Fleming; Annika Woehning; Katharina Huennemeyer; Eva Roeder; Peter P Nawroth; Hans-Christoph Friederich; Christian Wolfrum; Jobst-Hendrik Schultz; Gottfried Rudofsky Journal: Genes Nutr Date: 2013-06-25 Impact factor: 5.523
Authors: Roberta Dalle Molle; Hajar Fatemi; Alain Dagher; Robert D Levitan; Patricia P Silveira; Laurette Dubé Journal: Neurosci Biobehav Rev Date: 2016-12-23 Impact factor: 8.989
Authors: Athanasios Papathanasopoulos; Michael Camilleri; Paula J Carlson; Adrian Vella; Sara J Linker Nord; Duane D Burton; Suwebatu T Odunsi; Alan R Zinsmeister Journal: Obesity (Silver Spring) Date: 2009-10-29 Impact factor: 5.002
Authors: April B M Grudell; Seth Sweetser; Michael Camilleri; Deborah J Eckert; Maria I Vazquez-Roque; Paula J Carlson; Duane D Burton; Autumn E Braddock; Matthew M Clark; Karen M Graszer; Sarah A Kalsy; Alan R Zinsmeister Journal: Gastroenterology Date: 2008-07-16 Impact factor: 22.682
Authors: Bernard F Fuemmeler; Tanya Agurs-Collins; F Joseph McClernon; Scott H Kollins; Melanie E Garrett; Allison E Ashley-Koch Journal: Behav Genet Date: 2009-04-01 Impact factor: 2.805
Authors: Richard C McEachin; Nancy L Saccone; Scott F Saccone; Yelena D Kleyman-Smith; Tiara Kar; Rajesh K Kare; Alex S Ade; Maureen A Sartor; James D Cavalcoli; Melvin G McInnis Journal: BMC Med Genet Date: 2010-01-26 Impact factor: 2.103