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Leptin promoter variant G2548A is associated with serum leptin and HDL-C levels in a case control observational study in association with obesity in a Pakistani cohort

Journal of Biosciences volume 41, pages 251–255 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Leptin is a protein hormone synthesized by adipocytes and is involved in the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure. We hypothesized that any change in the promoter sequence can affect the expression of the gene and hence leptin protein levels in the serum. The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship of such a promoter variant of the leptin gene, G-2548A polymorphism, with obesity and its effect on various anthropometric and metabolic parameters in a Pakistani cohort consisting of 250 obese and 225 non-obese control subjects. Body weight, height, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC) and blood pressure (BP) were measured by standard methods and levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDLC, LDLC, and leptin were determined. Genotyping was done by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The results showed that the LEP G-2548A polymorphism showed significant association with obesity in Pakistan. In addition, the polymorphism showed association with weight, height, BMI, WC, HDLC and serum leptin levels. The findings suggest that the leptin promoter G-2548A variant may play its part in the progression to obesity by not only affecting the body’s fat distribution but also by changing the serum leptin and HDLC levels.

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Acknowledgements

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan is acknowledged for providing financial support for the study under Indigenous 5000 program (Batch VII PIN#bm7-153).

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan, 54590

    Shabana & Shahida Hasnain

  2. The Women University Multan, Multan, Pakistan

    Shahida Hasnain

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  1. Shabana
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  2. Shahida Hasnain
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Correspondence to Shabana.

Additional information

[Shabana and Hasnain S 2016 Leptin promoter variant G2548A is associated with serum leptin and HDL-C levels in a case control observational study in association with obesity in a Pakistani cohort. J. Biosci.] DOI 10.1007/s12038-016-9612-2

Corresponding editor: Sarah H Elsea

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Shabana, Hasnain, S. Leptin promoter variant G2548A is associated with serum leptin and HDL-C levels in a case control observational study in association with obesity in a Pakistani cohort. J Biosci 41, 251–255 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-016-9612-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12038-016-9612-2

Keywords

  • Leptin
  • obesity
  • Pakistan
  • promoter