The role of the rs1421085 polymorphism in the pathogenesis of obesity

Introduction
Genome-wide association study (GWAS) has revealed the relationship between polymorphisms in the FTO gene and the risk of obesity. Based on the literature data, the authors selected the rs1421085 polymorphism of the FTO gene associated with an increased risk of obesity. Data on the Polish population are scarce.

Aim of the research
Analysis of the relationship between the rs1421085 FTO gene polymorphism and the risk of obesity among participants of the PONS study (Polish Norwegian Study).

Material and methods
The verification covered data from 200 Polish residents who participated in the PONS study. Peripheral blood lymphocyte DNA was isolated from the available blood samples using the Genomic Micro AX Blood Gravity Kit (A&A Biotechnology). The quality and quantity of DNA obtained were checked using a NanoDrop One/OneC (Thermo Scientific) spectrophotometer. A commercial set of primers and probes and the TaqManTM Genotyping Master Mix (Thermo Scientific) using the QuantStudio 5 Real-Time PCR System device (Thermo Scientific) according to the manufacturer’s protocol were used for genotyping the rs1421085 FTO gene.

Results
People with obesity had statistically significantly higher systolic blood pressure (p < 0.001), higher triglyceride concentration (p < 0.001), and lower total cholesterol (p < 0.01). In the serum of obese people statistically significantly higher glucose levels were found compared to the control group (p < 0.001). The genotype distribution for the rs1421085 FTO gene polymorphism in the entire study group was 29.5% for TT homozygotes, 45% for CT heterozygotes, 25.5% for CC homozygotes.

Conclusions
The rs1421085 polymorphism of the FTO gene does not show a statistically significant association with the occurrence of obesity in the Polish population. The lack of association between the rs1421085 polymorphism of the FTO gene and obesity may result from the small size of the examined group. Analyses of a larger group of respondents are necessary.