The Gln27Glu polymorphism in the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor gene is not associated with morbid obesity in Austrian women

OBJECTIVE: beta-adrenergic receptors (beta ARs) play an important role in the regulation of energy expenditure and lipid mobilization. A Gl-27Glu polymorphism in the beta(2)-adrenergic receptor (beta(2)AR) gene has recently been associated with several indices of obesity in a female Caucasian population, while the same polymorphism exhibited no association with obesity in another, albeit male, population. METHODS: We have therefore studied possible associations of the Gln27Glu and the Gly16Arg polymorphisms in the beta(2)AR with BMI, plasma leptin and UCP-1 mRNA expression in the intraperitoneal adipose tissue in a population of Caucasian women. RESULTS: The frequencies of the Gln27 and the Gly16 alleles as well as the beta(2)AR haplotypes were similar in our morbidly obese and lean subjects. Furthermore, no association was found between the Gln27Glu or the Gly16Arg polymorphisms and plasma leptin or adipose tissue UCP-1 gene expression in either group. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the hive polymorphisms in the beta(2)AR gene studied are not a major factor contributing to obesity in our population.