Obesity and variants of the GHRL (ghrelin) and BCHE (butyrylcholinesterase) genes

Abstract

Ghrelin coded by the GHRL gene is related to weight-gain, its deactivation possibly depending on its hydrolyzation by butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) encoded by the BCHE gene, an enzyme already associated with the body mass index (BMI). The aim was to search for relationships between SNPs of the GHRL and BCHE genes with BChE activity, BMI and obesity in 144 obese and 153 nonobese Euro-Brazilian male blood donors. In the obese individuals, a significant association with higher BChE activity, in the 72LM+72MM; –116GG genotype class (GHRL and BCHE genes, respectively) was noted. No significant differences were found otherwise, through comparisons between obese and control individuals, of genotype and allele frequencies in SNPs of the GHRL gene (Arg51Gln and Leu72Met), or mean BMI between 72LL and 72LM+72MM genotypes. Although there appears to be no direct relationship between the examined GHRL SNPs and BMI, the association of the 72M SNP with higher BChE activity in obese subjects probably points to a regulatory mechanism, thereby implying the influence of the GHRL gene on BChE expression, and a consequential metabolic role in the complex process of fat utilization.

Alzheimer’s Disease and Metabolic Dysfunction: No Association Between L72m Ghlr Variant in Brazilian Population

“…Even so, our data are consistent regarding absence of association in a different population. The L72M variant frequencies from our sample did not differ from another Brazilian population study [24] and other Euro-derived population [25], we did not find statistical difference between the frequencies (p > 0.7 and p > 0.2 respectively).…”

Accelerated apoptosis, oxidative stress, and cholinergic inflammation in blood of metalworkers

“…Corroborating this hypothesis, researchers reported that a plasma increase of BChE is correlated with IL-6 and C-reactive protein in patients with a stroke (Kliper et al, 2013). Increases in BChE activity have been identified in pathologies, such as Alzheimer's disease (Geula and Darvesh, 2004), diabetes mellitus (Rao et al, 2007), obesity (Dantas et al, 2011) and hypertension (Bose et al, 2019). In this context, plasma cholinergic signaling may contribute to the induction or maintenance of a low-grade inflammatory state in metalworkers, making them susceptible to the development of several chronic pathologies (Hopf et al, 2019).…”

Serum Cholinesterase Is Inversely Associated with Body Weight Change in Men Undergoing Routine Health Screening

“…Polymorphisms of BuChE have been reported to be associated with obesity and hypertriglyceridemia in adults and adolescents. Chautard-Freire-Maia et al suggested that individuals with innately high BuChE activity tend to be thinner and BuChE synthesis is increased in individuals who gain weight (6)(7)(8)(9). Carriers of 1914G allele in the BuChE gene showed lower mean BuChE activity when compared to the 1914A carriers, while higher means of BMI and triglycerides were found in the 1914G carriers when compared to the 1914A homozygotes (17).…”

“…No parameter was found to be associated with incident obesity except for cholinesterase, and the association between cholinesterase and incident obesity was complicated. Some genetic studies have suggested that individuals with high serum cholinesterase levels tend to be thinner while cholinesterase synthesis is reported to increase in individuals who gain weight (6)(7)(8)(9).…”