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Published on: October 25, 2015

Fetal and maternal peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma2 Pro12Ala does not influence birth weight

Thiemo Pfab1, Christine Poralla, Claus-Michael Richter

  • 1Center for Cardiovascular Research/Institute of Pharmacology, Charité Mitte, Hessische Str. 3-4, 10115 Berlin, Germany.

Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.)
|December 1, 2006
PubMed

Insights

The PPARgamma2 Pro12Ala gene variant does not influence birth size or fetal insulin resistance. These genetic effects on metabolic health appear later in life, not during fetal development.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Metabolic Health
  • Perinatology

Background:

  • The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)gamma2 Pro12Ala polymorphism's link to insulin resistance is thought to be influenced by low birth weight.
  • Low birth weight is associated with adult-onset type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if the PPARgamma2 Pro12Ala polymorphism affects birth size.
  • To determine if metabolic differences related to this polymorphism are detectable in newborns.

Main Methods:

  • Genotyping of 1930 white mother/child pairs.
  • Measurement of newborn anthropometrics (weight, length, head circumference).
  • Assessment of fetal insulin resistance using total glycated hemoglobin.

Main Results:

  • The fetal or maternal Pro12Ala genotype did not significantly impact newborn body size.
  • No significant difference in total glycated hemoglobin was observed between genotypes at birth.
  • The PPARgamma2 Pro12Ala polymorphism was not found to be associated with intrauterine growth.

Conclusions:

  • The PPARgamma2 Pro12Ala polymorphism does not appear to play a role in determining fetal growth or immediate newborn metabolic status.
  • The previously reported associations between PPARgamma2 Pro12Ala and insulin resistance likely manifest after birth.

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