Olga Pomares, Jorge Laborda, Claudia Vales-Villamarín, Iris Pérez-Nadador, Francisco J Mejorado-Molano, Alejandro Parra-Rodríguez, Ignacio Mahillo-Fernández, Leandro Soriano-Guillén, Carmen Garcés
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: The DLK1 human gene encodes for the transmembrane EGF-like repeat-containing protein DLK1, which acts as a modulator of adipogenesis. A role for DLK1 in energy metabolism and lipid homeostasis has been suggested and DLK1 gene variants have been related to pubertal development.
Objective: The aim of this study was to uncover DLK1 SNPs in a cohort of children and analyze their relationship with anthropometric and biochemical variables.
Methods: Our population-based sample comprises 1237 healthy 6-to-8-year-old Caucasian children. The presence of five DLK1 SNPs (rs1802710, rs876374, rs7155375, rs57098752, and rs7149242) was analyzed by Real-Time PCR, using predesigned TaqMan™ Genotyping Assays.
Results: We observed that the SNPs rs1802710 and rs876374 were associated with BMI, and the prevalence of these two SNPs was different in normal-weight children compared to children with obesity. Related to biochemical variables, we found a significant association of the SNPs rs1802710, rs876374, and rs57098752 and their combination with Apo-B plasma concentrations after adjusting by BMI and sex. The SNPs rs1802710 and rs57098752 were also significantly associated with plasma levels of LDL-C and HDL-C, respectively.
Conclusion: Our study reveals that DLK1 gene variants may influence both body weight and lipid homeostasis, affecting particularly to the Apo-B biology, in children.
Impact: DLK1 polymorphisms are associated with BMI and with lipid levels, independently of BMI, early in life. Our data add to the existing literature the evidence that DLK1 gene variants impact on lipid metabolism. The confirmation at the population level that DLK1 genetic variants are associated with anthropometric and lipid variables sustains the role of DLK1 in obesity and related disorders and should lead to further studies aimed at clarifying this effect.
期刊介绍：
Pediatric Research publishes original papers, invited reviews, and commentaries on the etiologies of children''s diseases and
disorders of development, extending from molecular biology to epidemiology. Use of model organisms and in vitro techniques
relevant to developmental biology and medicine are acceptable, as are translational human studies
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