Genetic Variance in the Adiponutrin Gene Family and Childhood Obesity

AIM: The adiponutrin gene family consists of five genes (PNPLA1-5) coding for proteins with both lipolytic and lipogenic properties. PNPLA3 has previously been associated with adult obesity. Here we investigated the possible association between genetic variants in these genes and childhood and adolescent obesity. METHODS/RESULTS: Polymorphisms in the five genes of the adiponutrin gene family were selected and genotyped using the Sequenom platform in a childhood and adolescent obesity case-control study. Six variants in PNPLA1 showed association with obesity (rs9380559, rs12212459, rs1467912, rs4713951, rs10947600, and rs12199580, p0.05). When analyzing these SNPs in relation to phenotypes, two SNPs in the PNPLA3 gene showed association with insulin sensitivity (rs12483959: beta = -0.053, p = 0.016, and rs2072907: beta = -0.049, p = 0.024). No associations were seen for PNPLA2, PNPLA4, and PNPLA5. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic variation in the adiponutrin gene family does not seem to contribute strongly to obesity in children and adolescents. PNPLA1 exhibited a modest effect on obesity and PNPLA3 on insulin sensitivity. These data, however, require confirmation in other cohorts and ethnic groups

Genetic variants associated with fasting blood lipids in the U.S. population: Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The identification of genetic variants related to blood lipid levels within a large, population-based and nationally representative study might lead to a better understanding of the genetic contribution to serum lipid levels in the major race/ethnic groups in the U.S. population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Using data from the second phase (1991-1994) of the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), we examined associations between 22 polymorphisms in 13 candidate genes and four serum lipids: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), and triglycerides (TG). Univariate and multivariable linear regression and within-gene haplotype trend regression were used to test for genetic associations assuming an additive mode of inheritance for each of the three major race/ethnic groups in the United States (non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, and Mexican American).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Variants within <it>APOE </it>(rs7412, rs429358), <it>PON1 </it>(rs854560), <it>ITGB3 </it>(rs5918), and <it>NOS3 </it>(rs2070744) were found to be associated with one or more blood lipids in at least one race/ethnic group in crude and adjusted analyses. In non-Hispanic whites, no individual polymorphisms were associated with any lipid trait. However, the <it>PON1 </it>A-G haplotype was significantly associated with LDL-C and TC. In non-Hispanic blacks, <it>APOE </it>variant rs7412 and haplotype T-T were strongly associated with LDL-C and TC; whereas, rs5918 of <it>ITGB3 </it>was significantly associated with TG. Several variants and haplotypes of three genes were significantly related to lipids in Mexican Americans: <it>PON1 </it>in relation to HDL-C; <it>APOE </it>and <it>NOS3 </it>in relation to LDL-C; and <it>APOE </it>in relation to TC.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We report the significant associations of blood lipids with variants and haplotypes in <it>APOE</it>, <it>ITGB3, NOS3</it>, and <it>PON1 </it>in the three main race/ethnic groups in the U.S. population using a large, nationally representative and population-based sample survey. Results from our study contribute to a growing body of literature identifying key determinants of plasma lipoprotein concentrations and could provide insight into the biological mechanisms underlying serum lipid and cholesterol concentrations.</p

Genetics of Dispersal

Dispersal is a process of central importance for the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of populations and communities, because of its diverse consequences for gene flow and demography. It is subject to evolutionary change, which begs the question, what is the genetic basis of this potentially complex trait? To address this question, we (i) review the empirical literature on the genetic basis of dispersal, (ii) explore how theoretical investigations of the evolution of dispersal have represented the genetics of dispersal, and (iii) discuss how the genetic basis of dispersal influences theoretical predictions of the evolution of dispersal and potential consequences. Dispersal has a detectable genetic basis in many organisms, from bacteria to plants and animals. Generally, there is evidence for significant genetic variation for dispersal or dispersal-related phenotypes or evidence for the micro-evolution of dispersal in natural populations. Dispersal is typically the outcome of several interacting traits, and this complexity is reflected in its genetic architecture: while some genes of moderate to large effect can influence certain aspects of dispersal, dispersal traits are typically polygenic. Correlations among dispersal traits as well as between dispersal traits and other traits under selection are common, and the genetic basis of dispersal can be highly environment-dependent. By contrast, models have historically considered a highly simplified genetic architecture of dispersal. It is only recently that models have started to consider multiple loci influencing dispersal, as well as non-additive effects such as dominance and epistasis, showing that the genetic basis of dispersal can influence evolutionary rates and outcomes, especially under non-equilibrium conditions. For example, the number of loci controlling dispersal can influence projected rates of dispersal evolution during range shifts and corresponding demographic impacts. Incorporating more realism in the genetic architecture of dispersal is thus necessary to enable models to move beyond the purely theoretical towards making more useful predictions of evolutionary and ecological dynamics under current and future environmental conditions. To inform these advances, empirical studies need to answer outstanding questions concerning whether specific genes underlie dispersal variation, the genetic architecture of context-dependent dispersal phenotypes and behaviours, and correlations among dispersal and other traits.Peer reviewe

Pharmacological Properties and Biological Functions of the GPR17 Receptor, a Potential Target for Neuro-Regenerative Medicine

In 2006, cells heterologously expressing the "orphan" receptor GPR17 were shown to acquire responses to both uracil nucleotides and cysteinyl-leukotrienes, two families of signaling molecules accumulating in brain or heart as a result of hypoxic/traumatic injuries. In subsequent years, evidence of GPR17 key role in oligodendrogenesis and myelination has highlighted it as a "model receptor" for new therapies in demyelinating and neurodegenerative diseases. The apparently contrasting evidence in the literature about the role of GPR17 in promoting or inhibiting myelination can be due to its transient expression in the intermediate stages of differentiation, exerting a pro-differentiating function in early oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), and an inhibitory role in late stage maturing cells. Meanwhile, several papers extended the initial data on GPR17 pharmacology, highlighting a "promiscuous" behavior of this receptor; indeed, GPR17 is able to respond to other emergency signals like oxysterols or the pro-inflammatory cytokine SDF-1, underlying GPR17 ability to adapt its responses to changes of the surrounding extracellular milieu, including damage conditions. Here, we analyze the available literature on GPR17, in an attempt to summarize its emerging biological roles and pharmacological properties

L'Industrie du Meuble en France, 1958

Garenc Paule. L'Industrie du Meuble en France, 1958. In: L'information géographique, volume 23, n°4, 1959. pp. 180-182

Les aménagements hydroélectriques du Bassin de la Vienne

Garenc Paule. Les aménagements hydroélectriques du Bassin de la Vienne. In: Annales de Géographie, t. 61, n°324, 1952. pp. 106-122

L'Industrie du Meuble en France, 1958

Garenc Paule. L'Industrie du Meuble en France, 1958. In: L'information géographique, volume 23, n°4, 1959. pp. 180-182