Oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism and low serum oxytocin level are associated with hyperphagia and obesity in adolescents
- 5 June 2021
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in International Journal of Obesity
- Vol. 45 (9), 2064-2073
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41366-021-00876-5
Abstract
Background/Objectives In recent years, oxytocin (OXT) and polymorphisms in the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene have been reported to play roles in obesity pathogenesis. However, there was no study evaluating OXTR gene variants in childhood obesity. The aim of the study was to investigate the relation of OXTR gene polymorphisms and serum OXT levels with metabolic and anthropometric parameters in obese and healthy adolescents. Subjects/Methods The study was a multi-centered case-control study, which was conducted on obese and healthy adolescents aged between 12 and 17 years. Serum OXT and leptin levels were measured, and OXTR gene variants were studied by qPCR (rs53576) and RFLP (rs2254298) methods. Results A total of 250 obese and 250 healthy adolescents were included in this study. In the obese group, serum OXT level was lower and leptin level was higher than the control group. In the obese group, frequencies of homozygous mutant (G/G) and heterozygous (A/G) genotypes for rs53576 polymorphism were higher than the control group. Homozygous mutant(G/G) and heterozygous (A/G) genotypes for rs53576 polymorphism were found to increase the risk of obesity compared to the wild type (A/A) genotype [OR = 6.05 and OR = 3.06; p < 0.001, respectively]. In patients with homozygous mutant (G/G) and heterozygous (A/G) genotype for rs53576 polymorphism, serum OXT levels were lower than the wild type (A/A) genotype. In the obese group, hyperphagia score was higher than the control group and correlated negatively with serum OXT level. Conclusions This study revealed that low serum OXT level, which is associated with hyperphagia may be an underlying cause for obesity in adolescents. For rs53576 polymorphism of the OXTR gene, obesity risk is higher in patients with homozygous mutant(G/G) and heterozygous(A/G)genotypes.Keywords
This publication has 44 references indexed in Scilit:
- Treatment of Obesity and Diabetes Using Oxytocin or Analogs in Patients and Mouse ModelsPLOS ONE, 2013
- Peripheral oxytocin suppresses food intake and causes weight loss in diet-induced obese ratsAmerican Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2012
- Circadian intervention of obesity development via resting-stage feeding manipulation or oxytocin treatmentAmerican Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2011
- Oxytocin receptor gene polymorphism (rs2254298) interacts with familial risk for psychopathology to predict symptoms of depression and anxiety in adolescent girlsPsychoneuroendocrinology, 2011
- Association of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) in Caucasian children and adolescents with autismNeuroscience Letters, 2007
- Oxytocin is expressed throughout the human gastrointestinal tractRegulatory Peptides, 2006
- Blood pressure nomograms for children and adolescents, by height, sex, and age, in the United StatesThe Journal of Pediatrics, 1993
- Oxytocin infusions increase plasma levels of insulin and VIP but not of gastrin in conscious dogsActa Physiologica Scandinavica, 1985
- Clinical longitudinal standards for height and height velocity for North American childrenThe Journal of Pediatrics, 1985
- Hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus lesions produce overeating and obesity in the ratPhysiology & Behavior, 1981