Association of dopamine D2 receptor and leptin receptor genes with clinically severe obesity. (13th May 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Carpenter, Catherine L.; Wong, Angela M.; Li, Zhaoping; Noble, Ernest P.; Heber, David
• Is Part Of: Obesity. Volume 21:Number 9(2013:Sep.)
• Page Start: E467
• Page End: E473
• Publication Date: 2013-05-13
• Subjects: Obesity -- Periodicals; 616.398005
• DOI: 10.1002/oby.20202
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1930-7381

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="oby20202-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>The brain reward circuits that promote drug abuse may also be involved in pleasure seeking behavior and food cravings observed in severely obese subjects. Drug addiction polymorphisms such as the TaqI A1 allele of the dopamine D<sub>2</sub> receptor (<italic>DRD2</italic>) are associated with cocaine, alcohol, and opioid use, but few studies have linked <italic>DRD2</italic> to food craving. Other genes such as the leptin receptor gene (<italic>LEPR</italic>) and mu‐opioid receptor gene (<italic>OPRM1</italic>) that affect appetite and pleasure centers in the brain may also influence food addiction and obesity. The three genes together may function synergistically.</p> </sec> <sec id="oby20202-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Design and Methods</title> <p>To evaluate associations between candidate genes, food craving, overeating, and BMI, we administered questionnaires including Power of Food Scale and Food Craving Inventory, conducted anthropometric measures, and collected blood from patients undergoing weight‐loss treatment. Questionnaires and DNA specimens were collected for 80 participants.</p> </sec> <sec id="oby20202-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Participants were mostly female (74%) and Caucasian (79%), with an average age of 53 years old. Mean BMI for all participants was 43 kg/m<sup>2</sup> and was significantly associated in a linear fashion with Food Craving Inventory scores (<italic>P</italic>=0.0001) and Power of Food (<italic>P</italic>=0.02). The <italic>DRD2</italic> TaqI A1 allele was significantly associated with BMI (<italic>P</italic>=0.04), while <italic>LEPR</italic> Lys109Arg and <italic>OPRM1</italic> A118G variants were not. We stratified <italic>DRD2</italic> by <italic>LEPR</italic> and <italic>OPRM1</italic>, and observed a significant interaction (<italic>P</italic> = 0.04) between <italic>DRD2</italic> and <italic>LEPR</italic>, and a marginally significant interaction (<italic>P</italic>=0.06) between <italic>DRD2</italic> and <italic>OPRM1</italic>.</p> </sec> <sec id="oby20202-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Genes associated with addictive behavior and appetite control may therefore, in combination, markedly influence development of clinically severe obesity.</p> </sec> </abstract>