[Genetic susceptibility to metabolic syndrome]

The metabolic syndrome(MS) is a multifactorial complex trait that is influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. Factor analyses of several large population-based studies have shown that MS is genetically composed of at least 3-4 independent components. Mutations and polymorphisms in the genes associated with insulin resistance, adipocyte abnormality, chronic inflammation, or autonomic imbalance may underlie the etiological basis of MS. Above all, genes for several transcription factors such as PPARs and SREBPs and adipocytokines such as leptin and adiponectin are promising candidates. Genome-wide linkage analyses with affected sib-pairs have identified several chromosomal regions where major susceptible genes to MS may exist and have indicated that the underlying genes would differ among the races.