Sahar Elouej1, Majdi Nagara1, Redha Attaoua2, Om Kalthoum Sallem3, Insaf Rejeb1, Sana Hsouna1, Khaled Lasram1, Nizar Ben Halim1, Mariem Chargui4, Henda Jamoussi3, Zinet Turki5, Ines Kamoun5, Hanen Belfki-Benali6, Abdelmajid Abid3, Claude Ben Slama5, Sonia Bahri7, Dalenda Triki8, Habiba Ben Romdhane6, Sonia Abdelhak1, Rym Kefi9, Florin Grigorescu2. 1. Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, BP 74, 13 Place Pasteur, Tunis 1002, Consortium MEDIGENE, Tunisia; Université de Tunis El Manar, 2092 El Manar I, Tunis, Tunisia. 2. Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory, IURC, 641, Avenue du Doyen Gaston Giraud, 34093 Montpellier Cedex5, Consortium MEDIGENE, France. 3. Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, BP 74, 13 Place Pasteur, Tunis 1002, Consortium MEDIGENE, Tunisia; Department of External Consultation, National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, 11 Rue Jebel lakdhar, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia. 4. Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, BP 74, 13 Place Pasteur, Tunis 1002, Consortium MEDIGENE, Tunisia. 5. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology, 11 Rue Jebel lakdhar, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia. 6. Cardiovascular Epidemiology and Prevention Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, 15 rue Djebel Akdhar-La Rabta-Bab Saâdoun, 1007 Tunis, Tunisia. 7. Central Laboratory of Medical Biology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, BP 74, 13 Place Pasteur, 1002 Tunis, Tunisia; Université de Tunis El Manar, 2092 El Manar I, Tunis, Tunisia. 8. Directorate of Basic Health Care, DSSB, 31 Rue de khartoum, 1002 Tunis, Tunisia. 9. Laboratory of Biomedical Genomics and Oncogenetics, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, BP 74, 13 Place Pasteur, Tunis 1002, Consortium MEDIGENE, Tunisia; Université de Tunis El Manar, 2092 El Manar I, Tunis, Tunisia. Electronic address: rym.kefi@pasteur.rns.tn.
Abstract
AIMS: Variants in the fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) are associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes. However, the association of FTO variants in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region with MetS is largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association of FTO gene with MetS and its components in Tunisian population. METHODS: Two variants in the FTO gene were genotyped: rs1421085 T>C and rs8057044 A>G in cases and controls from Tunisian population. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were assessed. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). RESULTS: The FTO rs1421085 variant conferred an increased risk to MetS (OR=1.61, 95% CI=1.14-2.26, P=0.024) that was abolished when adjusted for fasting plasma glucose (FPG), suggesting that the association may be due to variation in FPG levels. Indeed, this variant was associated to FPG (OR = 1.7, 95% CI=1.23-2.44, P=0.002) independently from BMI or age. The second polymorphism rs8057044 was associated with high blood pressure levels (OR=1.45, 95% CI=1.06-1.99, P=0.019). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study highlighting the association between FTO gene variants and MetS in Tunisian population. These findings provide evidence that FTO gene may play a critical role in leading to MetS in Tunisian population.
AIMS: Variants in the fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) are associated with obesity and type 2 diabetes. However, the association of FTO variants in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region with MetS is largely unknown. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association of FTO gene with MetS and its components in Tunisian population. METHODS: Two variants in the FTO gene were genotyped: rs1421085 T>C and rs8057044 A>G in cases and controls from Tunisian population. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were assessed. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). RESULTS: The FTOrs1421085 variant conferred an increased risk to MetS (OR=1.61, 95% CI=1.14-2.26, P=0.024) that was abolished when adjusted for fasting plasma glucose (FPG), suggesting that the association may be due to variation in FPG levels. Indeed, this variant was associated to FPG (OR = 1.7, 95% CI=1.23-2.44, P=0.002) independently from BMI or age. The second polymorphism rs8057044 was associated with high blood pressure levels (OR=1.45, 95% CI=1.06-1.99, P=0.019). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study highlighting the association between FTO gene variants and MetS in Tunisian population. These findings provide evidence that FTO gene may play a critical role in leading to MetS in Tunisian population.