Original Paper

Association of ADRB1 and UCP3 Gene Polymorphisms with Insulin Sensitivity but Not Obesity
Salim Mottagui-Tabar^a, Johan Hoffstedt^b, Anthony J. Brookes^d, Hong Jiao^c, Peter Arner^b, Ingrid Dahlman<sup>b

a</sup>Department of Molecular Medicine, National Public Health Institute/Department of Medical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Biomedicum, Helsinki, Finland;
^bDepartment of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital and
^cDepartment of Bioscience and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden, and
^dDepartment of Genetics, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK

Address of Corresponding Author

Horm Res 2008;69:31-36 (DOI: 10.1159/000111793)

  Key Words

• Gene polymorphisms
• Insulin resistance
• Uncoupling proteins
• Obesity
• Insulin sensitivity

  Abstract

Background: The uncoupling proteins (UCPs) and -adrenoceptors (ADRBs) are important for energy balance and may be involved in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance. Obesity is strongly hunted by insulin resistance and susceptibility genes for the two conditions could be separate or common. Variations within the UCPs and ADRBs genes may give important clues to their involvement in disease. Methods: A total of four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes UCP1, UCP2, UCP3, and ADRB1 were examined for association with obesity and insulin sensitivity (HOMA_IR) in obese (n = 292) and healthy non-obese (n = 481) females. Results: None of the SNPs was associated with obesity status or body mass index. However, ADRB1 (rs1801253) was nominally associated with serum insulin (nominal p = 0.034) and HOMA_IR (nominal p = 0.022). UCP3 (rs1800006) was in post-hoc analysis nominally associated with serum insulin and HOMA_IR (nominal p = 0.013 and 0.048, respectively). UCP1 and UCP2 showed no association with insulin sensitivity. Conclusion: Polymorphisms in ADRB1 and UCP3 may contribute to insulin resistance rather than obesity among Swedish women.

Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Ingrid Dahlman, MD
Department of Medicine, Huddinge, M61
Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital
SE-141 86 Stockholm (Sweden)
Tel. +46 8 5858 0000, +46 8 5858 2407, E-Mail ingrid.dahlman@ki.se

  Article Information

Received: September 29, 2006
Accepted: February 15, 2007
Published online: December 4, 2007
Number of Print Pages : 6
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 4, Number of References : 28