CHDH-PNPLA3 Gene–Gene Interactions Predict Insulin Resistance in Children with Obesity

• Main Authors: Chirita-Emandi A, Serban CL, Paul C, Andreescu N, Velea I, Mihailescu A, Serafim V, Tiugan DA, Tutac P, Zimbru C, Puiu M, Niculescu MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2020-11-01
• Series: Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity : Targets and Therapy
• Subjects: insulin-resistance; obesity; gene-gene interaction; chdh-pnpla3; choline; children.
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/chdh-pnpla3-genendashgene-interactions-predict-insulin-resistance-in-c-peer-reviewed-article-DMSO

Adela Chirita-Emandi,1,2,* Costela Lacrimioara Serban,2,3,* Corina Paul,4,5,* Nicoleta Andreescu,1,2 Iulian Velea,4,5 Alexandra Mihailescu,1 Vlad Serafim,1,6 Diana-Andreea Tiugan,1 Paul Tutac,1 Cristian Zimbru,1,7 Maria Puiu,1,2 Mihai Dinu Niculescu1,8 1Department of Microscopic Morphology - Genetics, Center of Genomic Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, Timisoara, Romania; 2Regional Center of Medical Genetics Timis, Clinical Emergency Hospital for Children “Louis Turcanu”, Timisoara, Romania; 3Department of Functional Sciences, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, Timisoara, Romania; 4Pediatrics Department – Pediatrics Discipline II, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, Timisoara, Romania; 5Pediatrics, Endocrinology and Diabetes Department, Clinic II Pediatrics, “Pius Branzeu” Clinical Emergency County Hospital, Timisoara, Romania; 6The National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Bucharest, Romania; 7Department of Automation and Applied Informatics, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania; 8Advanced Nutrigenomics, Cary, NC 27511, USA*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Nicoleta AndreescuDepartment of Microscopic Morphology - Genetics, Center of Genomic Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, Timisoara, RomaniaEmail [e-mail]: Insulin resistance plays a major role in metabolic syndrome and is recognized as the most common risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Identifying predictors for insulin resistance could optimize screening and prevention.Purpose: To evaluate the contribution of multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms across genes related to NAFLD and choline metabolism, in predicting insulin resistance in children with obesity.Methods: One hundred fifty-three children with obesity (73 girls), aged 7– 18 years, were evaluated within the NutriGen Study (ClinicalTrials.gov-NCT02837367). Insulin resistance was defined by Homeostatic Model Assessment for insulin-resistance cut-offs that accommodated pubertal and gender differences. Anthropometric, metabolic, intake-related variables, and 55 single nucleotide polymorphisms related to NAFLD and choline metabolism were evaluated. Gene–gene interaction effects were assessed using Multiple Data Reduction Software.Results: Sixty percent (93/153) of participants showed insulin resistance (58.7% of boys, 63% of girls). Children with insulin resistance presented significantly higher values for standardized body mass index, triglycerides, transaminases and plasma choline when compared to those without insulin resistance. Out of 52 single nucleotide polymorphisms analysed, the interaction between genotypes CHDH(rs12676) and PNPLA3(rs738409) predicted insulin resistance. The model presented a 6/10 cross-validation consistency and 0.58 testing accuracy. Plasma choline levels and alanine aminotransferase modulated the gene interaction effect, significantly improving the model.Conclusion: The interaction between genotypes in CHDH and PNPLA3 genes, modulated by choline and alanine aminotransferase levels, predicted insulin-resistance status in children with obesity. If replicated in larger cohorts, these findings could help identify metabolic risk in children with obesity.Keywords: insulin-resistance, obesity, gene–gene interaction, CHDH-PNPLA3, choline, children