The angiotensin II type 2 receptor gene polymorphism and body mass index in healthy Japanese women.

BACKGROUND

Angiotensin II (AngII), through the AngII type 2 receptor (AT2-R), might exert some effect on adipocyte- and lipogenesis-related biology. The Adenine/Cytosine 3123 (A/C(3123)) polymorphism in the AT2-R gene is reportedly involved in some diseases, such as hypertension.

METHODS

A total of 201 healthy Japanese women (mean age 43.2 years) were enrolled in the study to investigate the association among the AT2-R A/C(3123) polymorphism detected by polymerase chain reaction methods, body mass index (BMI) and other obesity-linked metabolic parameters (blood pressure, serum lipid/lipoprotein, plasma glucose).

RESULTS

Homozygotes of the C-allele in the AT2-R A/C(3123) polymorphism were associated with small but significant increases in BMI levels. There were no differences between genotype-based groups in the obesity-linked metabolic parameters.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that the AT2-R A/C(3123) polymorphism could be a polymorphic marker related to BMI in Japanese women.