Leptin gene microsatellite polymorphism: Relation to metabolic syndrome

• Genotypes [I/I, I/II] were higher in MS cases as compared to control group.
• tet-LEP was related only significantly to body weight out of MS abnormalities.
• tet-LEP may be linked to metabolic syndrome through effect on body weight.

BackgroundMetabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of metabolic disorders. Despite its growing prevalence worldwide, there is a great debate regarding its definition, pathogenesis, and prognosis. Leptin gene (OB) gene polymorphism is a highly informative marker of obesity which is a main component of MS. Objective: to elucidate the degree of association of 3’tetranucleotide microsatellite polymorphism of Leptin (tet-LEP) gene with metabolic syndrome and its related disorders.Materials and methodsThe present study included 106 cases fulfilling all the criteria of MS and 134 age and gender matched control subjects. tet-LEP polymorphic region was amplified by using polymerase chain reaction of DNA extracted from peripheral blood samples. The products of reaction have distinguished two groups of alleles (group I= short alleles, and group II = long alleles). Metabolic parameters were estimated in blood serum.Resultsour data indicated the higher frequency of group I containing genotypes [I/I, I/II] in MS cases as compared to control group. Further analysis of the association of tet-LEP microsatellite polymorphism to each component of metabolic syndrome separately have shown significant association of group I alleles with high body mass index and increased risk of hypertension with odd ratio (5.7, 1.26) respectively but no association was noticed with glucose intolerance and dyslipidemia.Conclusion3’tetranucleotide microsatellite polymorphism of LEP gene was found to be linked to occurrence of metabolic syndrome which could be through the effect on body weight.