Effects of GLP-1 Receptor Polymorphisms on Adolescent Obesity

Mahafarin Maralani; Tufan Cankaya; Esra Ataman; Yavuz Tokgoz; Erkan Kaytankas; Nur Arslan; Behzad Baradaran; Khalil Hajiasgharzadeh; Ayfer Ulgenalp

doi:10.18502/acta.v61i4.13175

Mahafarin Maralani Department of Medical Oncology, MOCA, University Hospital Antwerp (UZA), Antwerp, Belgium
Tufan Cankaya Department of Medical Genetics, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
Esra Ataman Department of Medical Genetics, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
Yavuz Tokgoz Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Adnan Menderes University, Aydın, Turkey
Erkan Kaytankas Department of Medical Genetics, Dokuz Eylul University, Izmir, Turkey
Nur Arslan Department of Medical Oncology, MOCA, University Hospital Antwerp (UZA), Antwerp, Belgium
Behzad Baradaran Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Khalil Hajiasgharzadeh Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Ayfer Ulgenalp Department of Medical Oncology, MOCA, University Hospital Antwerp (UZA), Antwerp, Belgium

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/acta.v61i4.13175

Keywords: Glucagon-like peptide-1; Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor; Single-nucleotide polymorphism; Obesity development

Abstract

Obesity is becoming a concerning disease in developing countries. Like other multifactorial diseases, genetics plays a substantial role in the development of this disease. We tried to investigate genetic variations (mutation/polymorphism) of GLP-1R gene in children diagnosed with obesity and to identify their possible connections with obesity and other conditions. Genomic DNA was extracted from 162 overweight/obese patients and 100 controls. Later, full exon sequencing and association studies were carried out. Three polymorphisms and one mutation were detected in the fourth and fifth exons of the GLP-1R gene. Some variations were detected in three cases from which 1/3 had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) but none showed insulin resistance (IR). There were also statistically meaningful results for ‘Odds Ratio’ among different genotypes and allele frequencies in groups with NAFLD and/or IR. In addition, there was an increase in risk for NAFLD and a decrease in risk for IR. In the homozygous group, also the prospect of IR was double declined. Patients with the A allele of this polymorphism showed a drop in risk for IR as well. GLP-1R polymorphisms could influence obesity and diabetes and thus the functional analysis of the GLP-1R polymorphisms is benevolent.