ABSTRACT

Objective: Obese phenotype can be a consequence of disruption in the physiological integrity of the leptin axis. Leptin acts as a satiety signal and exerts its physiological effects by binding to the leptin receptor; consequently, genetic variants of the leptin receptor may be important in the pathophysiology of human obesity. The current study was therefore carried out to find the association of the leptin receptor rs1137101 variant with obesity and associated anthropometric and metabolic parameters in a sample of the Pakistani population.

Methods: DNA samples from a total of 239 obese and 155 non-obese human subjects with age range of 5–45 years were genotyped for the rs1137101 variant of the leptin receptor gene. Anthropometric measurements of the subjects were taken, and biochemical parameters from the corresponding serum samples were determined. Blood pressure was monitored, and measurements of body weight, height, waist and hip circumference were recorded. Body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio were calculated. Levels of fasting blood glucose, insulin, leptin and leptin receptor were determined, and insulin resistance was calculated.

Results: The statistical analysis of the data showed no significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies of rs1137101 variant between obese and non-obese subjects (p > 0.05). Moreover, no significant association of the variant was observed with any of the obesity-related anthropometric and metabolic traits (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: The study suggests that rs1137101 variant of the leptin receptor gene may not be involved in conferring obese phenotype in the Pakistani population.