Uncoupling Protein 2 (UCP2) as Genetic Risk Factor for Obesity in Indonesia is Different in Gender Stratification.

Ala55Val and 45 basepair (bp) insertion/deletion (I/D) of UCP2 gene polymorphisms cause a decrease in resting energy expenditure, decreasing fatty acid oxidation and influencing mRNA transcription and stability, thereby increasing the risk of obesity. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of Ala55Val and 45 bp I/D polymorphisms of the UCP2 gene as a risk factor for obesity. This study consisted of 200 Indonesian subjects of Javanese ethnicity consisting of 100 obese and 100 non-obese participants. Examination of Ala55Val (C > T) UCP2 genotype used Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methods and 45 bp I/D genotype used PCR methods. Polymorphism of Ala55Val UCP2 genotype in the male group showed that TT genotype and T allele significantly lowers the risk of obesity. Insertion/deletion of 45 bp UCP2 gene in the male group showed that II genotype and I allele significantly increase the risk of obesity whereas for women it showed that the DI genotype and I allele lower the risk of obesity. The results of this study demonstrate that Ala55Val and 45 bp I/D UCP2 polymorphisms play a role in the risk of obesity in Javanese ethnicity of Indonesia after gender stratification.