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Polymorphisms in lipid metabolism related miRNA binding sites and risk of metabolic syndrome

Qing Ye1, Xu Zhao, Kang Xu

  • 1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.

Gene
|August 6, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in microRNA (miRNA) binding sites are associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk. Specific SNPs in APOL6 and FABP2 genes impact MetS development and its components in the Chinese Han population.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Metabolic Diseases

Background:

  • MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression posttranscriptionally, often by interacting with 3'-untranslated regions (3'UTRs) of messenger RNAs (mRNAs).
  • Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within miRNA binding sites can alter miRNA-mRNA interactions, influencing gene regulation and disease susceptibility.
  • The association between miRNA binding site polymorphisms and the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) remains largely unexplored in general populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between SNPs in miRNA binding sites and the risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS).
  • To evaluate the association of specific miRNA binding site polymorphisms with MetS and its clinical components in the Chinese Han population.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study was conducted involving 1026 MetS patients and 1032 healthy controls from the Chinese Han population.
  • Bioinformatics software identified 8 SNPs in miRNA binding sites with a minor allele frequency (MAF) of ≥ 0.05.
  • Genotyping was performed using TaqMan® assay for the selected SNPs.

Main Results:

  • Two SNPs in the APOL6 3'UTR (rs5750146 and rs5999924) were significantly associated with MetS risk in the total sample and in females.
  • One SNP in the FABP2 3'UTR (rs11724758) was significantly associated with MetS risk in the total sample and in males.
  • FABP2 rs11724758 polymorphism correlated with MetS components, showing higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and lower triglycerides (TG) and fasting plasma glucose (FG) in AA genotype carriers.

Conclusions:

  • Three identified polymorphisms in predicted miRNA binding sites contribute to susceptibility to metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the Chinese Han population.
  • These genetic variations may serve as potential biomarkers for MetS risk and its associated metabolic dysregulations.
Keywords:
3’UTRs3’untranslated regionsAHAAmerican Heart AssociationBMIBody Mass IndexCIConfidence IntervalDBPFPGFasting plasma glucoseHDL-CHaplotypeHigh density lipoprotein cholesterinIDFInternational Diabetes FederationLDALDL-CLinkage Disequilibrium AnalysisLow density lipoprotein cholesterinMAFMetSMetabolic SyndromeMetabolic syndromeNCBINHLBINational Center of Biotechnology InformationNational Heart, Lung and Blood InstituteOROdds RatioPCRPolymerase Chain ReactionSBPSNPSingle Nucleotide PolymorphismSingle nucleotide polymorphismT2DMTCTGTotal cholesterolTriglycerideType 2 diabetes mellitusWCdiastolic blood pressuremRISCmiRNAmiRNA target binding sitesmiRNA-induced silencing effector complexmicroRNAminor allele frequencysystolic blood pressurewaist circumference

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