Impact of genetic polymorphisms of the human beta 2-adrenergic receptor gene in obese Egyptian females

Abstract EN

-Background : Obesity is a rapidly growing public health problem.

The beta 2- adrenergic receptor (b2–AR) gene may constitute a potential candidate gene to explain genetic predisposition to human obesity.

Objective : To evaluate the role of human b2-AR polymorphisms in obesity Method: We studied 100 obese as well as 100 non obese females, attending the outpatient clinic of the Medical Research Institute.

Height, body weight, body mass index and DNA extraction were done for all cases.

Molecular analysis include three Loci, codon 27, codon 16 and codon 164 of the b2-AR gene and their related haplotypes.

Results: The Gln 27 Glu polymorphism as well as Arg 16 Gly of the b2- AR were significantly associated with obesity (OR = 2.

25, CI : 1.

08 – 4.

73, OR = 2.

47, CI : 1.

19–5.16), respectively.

The polymorphism in codon 16 and 27 were significantly associated with increased risk of obesity, also it was found that 25% of the women carried at the same time Gly 16 and Glu 27 in a heterozygous form.

They also had an 8 fold increased risk of obesity (OR = 8, CI = 2.

5-28.

44).

Conclusion : These findings show that polymorphisms in the human b2– AR gene could be of major importance for obesity at least in women.