Adipocyte “Fatty Acid Binding Protein” Gene Polymorphisms (rs1054135, rs16909196 and rs16909187) in Jordanians with Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND: Obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and dyslipidemia may result from the interactions of genetic and environmental factors. There are controversial reports concerning the association of polymorphisms (rs1054135, rs16909196 and rs16909187) in the gene of adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (FABP4) with obesity and T2DM. Therefore, we designed this study to determine the association of these polymorphisms with obesity, T2DM, and dyslipidemia among Jordanian subjects. METHODS: The study was approved by the National Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Genetics (NCDEG) Institutional Review Board (IRB). A total of 397 subjects were enrolled in the study and divided into four groups as described in materials and methods section. The fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) gene containing (rs1054135, rs16909196 and rs16909187) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by Sanger DNA sequencing of the PCR product. RESULTS: None of the three SNPs were associated with T2DM (p > 0.05). The rs16909187 and rs16909196 were significantly associated with obesity. The wild type (CC) of rs16909187 was significantly higher among the overweight and obese group compared with normal weight controls (OD = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.18 - 3.96, p =0.01). The wild type of rs16909196 (AA) was significantly higher among the overweight and obese group compared to controls, (OD = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.24 - 4.14, p = 0.01). These results may indicate that the wild-type may be a risk factor for obesity. Only the rs1054135 SNP was significantly associated with increased low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in the overweight and obese group compared with the controls (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The wild-type genotypes of rs16909196 and rs16909187 may be risk factors for obesity but not T2DM. None of the three SNPs was associated with T2DM.