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Investigation of melanocortin system gene variants in antipsychotic-induced weight gain

Nabilah I Chowdhury1, Renan P Souza, Arun K Tiwari

  • 1Neurogenetics Section, Neuroscience Department, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto, ON , Canada.

The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry : the Official Journal of the World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry
|February 26, 2014
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Genetic variants in POMC, CART, and AGRP genes do not appear to significantly contribute to antipsychotic-induced weight gain (AIWG) in schizophrenia patients. Further research with larger sample sizes is needed to definitively confirm these findings.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Genetics
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Second-generation antipsychotics can cause significant weight gain in schizophrenia patients.
  • Hypothalamic neurons expressing CART, POMC, and AGRP play key roles in regulating body weight and energy balance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential association between genetic variants in CART, POMC, and AGRP genes and antipsychotic-induced weight gain (AIWG).

Main Methods:

  • Genotyping of specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CART, POMC, and AGRP genes in 218 chronic schizophrenia patients undergoing antipsychotic treatment.
  • Analysis of covariance was used to compare weight change (%) across different genotypic groups.

Main Results:

  • No significant associations were found between the studied SNPs in POMC, CART, or AGRP and AIWG.
  • This lack of association remained consistent after stratifying samples by ethnicity and medication treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Exploratory findings suggest that variants in POMC, CART, and AGRP genes are not major contributors to AIWG.
  • Larger sample sizes are necessary to conclusively rule out the influence of these gene variants on AIWG.

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