Obesity risk prediction among women of Upper Egypt: The impact of serum vaspin and vaspin rs2236242 gene polymorphism

Background: Vaspin is an adipokine that is potentially linking obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and type-2 diabetes. Aim: The present study aimed to investigate the impact of vaspin rs2236242 gene polymorphism on the risk of obesity, diabetes, their metabolic traits, and serum vaspin levels in a sample of Upper Egyptian women. Subjects and methods: A total of 224 subjects, 112 obese (62 non diabetics, 50 diabetics) and 112 controls were included in this case control study. Vaspin gene rs2236242 polymorphism was performed using tetra amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS-PCR) and serum vaspin levels were estimated by ELISA. Results: The minor (A) allele of vaspin rs2236242 gene polymorphism was significantly lower in obese (30.8%) than controls (43.7%) (P = 0.005). The protective effect was evident in dominant and recessive inheritance models (TT vs TA + AA, P = 0.004 and TT + TA vs AA, P = 0.036). After adjusting genotypes for diabetes there were no significant association between vaspin rs2236242 gene polymorphism and obesity but significant association was maintained in the obese diabetics. Vaspin serum levels were found to be lower in minor protective (AA) genotype carriers than the other two genotypes (P < 0.001). In the mean-time serum vaspin levels were significantly higher in obese diabetics and non-diabetics than controls (P < 0.001 each). There were significant positive correlations between vaspin levels and hs-CRP, cholesterol, LDL-C, fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, insulin, and ALT values (P < 0.05 each) and a negative correlation with HDL-C (P < 0.01). Conclusion: The minor A allele of vaspin rs2236242 polymorphism plays a protective role against obesity and diabetes but this relation is largely ascribed to its effect on insulin resistance. The serum vaspin concentration was lower in minor protective allele carriers. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of vaspin SNP in Upper Egyptian women. The entire understanding of vaspin intimate mechanistic action might enable the development of novel etiology-based treatment strategies for obesity, the complex genetic trait.