[Polymorphism in beta2 adrenergic receptor gene in Chinese population with obesity]

To investigate the variation of beta2 adrenergic receptor (beta2 AR) gene and its association with obesity in Chinese population.

The allele of beta2 AR gene at Arg16Gly and Gln27Glu sites were analysed with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) in 396 people with Han nationality in Chengdu, among whom 126 had obesity.

The allele frequencies of Arg and Gly at Arg16Gly site were 0.571 and 0.429 for the obese people, and 0.559 and 0.441 for the non-obese people, respectively. The allele frequencies of Gln and Glu at Gln27Glu site were 0.920 and 0.080 for the obese people, and 0.916 and 0.084 for the non-obese people, respectively. No significant differences were found in the genotype frequencies of the two sites between non-obese and obese people. The non-obese females and obese males with genotype Arg/Arg at Arg16Gly site had elevated serum TC and LDL-C levels compared with those who carried Arg/Gly or Gly/Gly (P < 0.05). The apoB100 levels increased in the non-obese females with genotype Arg/Arg and decreased in the obese females with Arg/Gly (P < 0.05 ). The apoA I and apoA II levels decreased in the obese and non-obese males with Arg/Arg (P < 0.05).

The polymorphism in beta2AR gene at Arg16Gly and Gln27Glu is not associated with obesity in Chinese Han population. But they may have certain degree of gender-specific impact on serum TC, LDL-C and apolipoprotein levels.