Leptin and Leptin receptor polymorphisms,plasma Leptin levels and obesity in Tunisian volunteers

Adipose tissue is an important endocrine organ that secretes a number of adipokines, like Leptin (LEP). The aim this study was to investigate the prevalence of single nucleotide polymorphisms in LEP gene (LEP 3′UTR A/C, ?2548 G/A) and LEPR (K109R and Q223R) and their association with Leptin level and obesity. We recruited 169 non‐obese (body mass index BMI] = 24.51‐3.69 kg/m²) and 160 obese (BMI = 36‐4.78 kg/m²) patients. Genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism, BMI was calculated, and Leptin level was measured by ELISA. Statistical analyses were performed by spss 19.0. According to LEP 3′UTR A/C polymorphism, AC and CC genotype carriers had higher Leptin levels than AA genotype carriers, respectively, 310.05‐148.8] (P = .008) vs 410.05‐111.6] (P = .003). The K109R polymorphism was associated with obesity (P = .025) and seems to significantly decrease the LEP levels (P < .001). Concerning LEP G2548A polymorphism, our results showed that the OR of obesity associated with 2548 AA/GG was 1.871.106‐2.78] P = .028 vs 1.411.035‐1.85] P = .045 for 223AA/GG polymorphism. In our haplotype analysis, one haplotype seems to be the more protective and one other seems to be the highest risk to obesity. LEP 3′UTR A/C and LEPR K109R polymorphisms were associated with Leptin level and obesity.