Effects of UCP2 and UCP3 Variants on the Manifestation of Overweight in Korean Children

Abstract

To investigate the associations of uncoupling protein (UCP)2 and UCP3 gene variants with overweight and related traits, we genotyped UCP2−866G>A, UCP2Ala55Val, and UCP3−55C>T in 737 Korean children and 732 adults and collected data regarding anthropometric status and blood biochemistry. Information concerning the children's lifestyles and dietary habits was collected. The UCP2−866G>A and UCP3−55C>T gene variants showed significant associations with BMI level, waist circumference, and body weight in the children but not in the adults. Compared with −866GG carriers, the −866GA and AA carriers showed a strong decreasing trend in the risk for overweight (odds ratio (OR), 0.67; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.45–1.01; P = 0.053). In comparison with UCP3−55CC carriers, children carrying −55CT and TT showed a significant reduction in the risk of overweight (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.46–0.98; P = 0.039). There was also evidence of interactions between the effects of the combined UCP2−UCP3 genotype and obesity‐related metabolic traits. The greatest protective effect against overweight was seen in those with the combined genotype non‐UCP2−866GG and non‐UCP3−55CC, as compared with those carrying both UCP2−866GG and UCP3−55CC (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.38–0.95; P = 0.030). In the subgroup with a low level of physical activity, UCP3−55CC carriers had higher BMI values than UCP3−55T carriers (16.6 ± 2.3 kg/m2 vs. 16.1 ± 1.9 kg/m2, P = 0.016). Low physical activity may aggravate the susceptibility to overweight in UCP2−866GG and UCP3−55CC carriers.

Association of Common Variants of UCP2 Gene With Low-Grade Inflammation in Swedish Children and Adolescents; The European Youth Heart Study

“…These results agree with Wang et al findings (18) that showed a trend toward association between the Ϫ866G allele and type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, previous studies conducted in children reported that those carrying the G allele of UCP2 Ϫ866GϾA were at higher obesity risk as estimated by higher BMI (15,17,38,39). Other reports, however, found no evidence for involvement of the promoter polymorphism Ϫ866 G/A of the UCP2 gene in childhood-onset obesity (40).…”

Bioenergetic Origins of Complexity and Disease

“…A Pro 121 Ala polymorphism in the PPARα has been associated with Type II diabetes (Altshuler et al 2000), and a Gly482Ser polymorphism in the PGC-1α gene has been associated with Type II diabetes in Danish populations (Ek et al 2001) and in Pima Indians (Muller et al 2003). Polymorphisms in mitochondrial uncoupling proteins (UCP1, 2, 3) have also been correlated with diabetes and obesity in a number of regional studies (Jun et al 2009; Jia et al 2010; Srivastava et al 2010; Dalgaard 2011). …”

The relationship among serum levels of manganese superoxide dismutase and mtDNA 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, and dietary antioxidants intake in Type 2 Diabetes

“…Lumini et al (2008) indicated that exercise may reverse the mitochondrial defect, but the mechanism by which this occurs is not clearly understood. This finding was corroborated by Jun et al (2009) in a study of male and female Koreans between the ages of 20 and 70 years. From the 1,500 subjects, the researchers collected data on dietary intake, physical activity, anthropometrics, and biochemical analysis, including single-nucleotide polymorphism genotype, using fasting blood specimen.…”