Association of PPAR Alpha Intron 7 G/C, PPAR Gamma 2 Pro12Ala, and C161T Polymorphisms with Serum Fetuin-A Concentrations.

BACKGROUND: Both peroxisome activator proteins (PPARs) and fetuin-A play a role in lipid and glucose metabolism.

AIMS: We investigated whether PPARα intron 7 G2468/C and PPARγ2 Pro12Ala and PPARγ exon 6 C161T polymorphisms are associated with serum fetuin-A concentrations.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The PPARα intron 7 G/C polymorphism was studied in cohort 1 (79 reference individuals, 165 postinfarction patients). The two PPARγ polymorphisms were investigated in cohort 2 (162 reference individuals, 165 postinfarction patients). Fetuin-A levels and PPAR polymorphisms were determined by radial immunodiffusion and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism techniques.

RESULTS: The C allele variant of PPARα intron 7 G2467C was associated with higher fetuin-A levels (p = 0.018). Postinfarction status (p = 0.001), PPARα intron 7 GG/GC/CC genotypes (p = 0.032), and the C allele (p = 0.021) were the strongest determinants of fetuin-A concentration in a multiple regression model. Higher fetuin-A levels were associated with the Pro variant of PPARγ2 (p = 0.047). Postinfarction status (p = 0.041) and BMI (p < 0.001) but not PPARγ2 Pro were the strongest determinants of fetuin-A concentrations. PPARγ exon 6 C161T genotypes were not associated with fetuin-A levels.

CONCLUSIONS: Fetuin-A was determined mainly by the PPARα intron 7C allele and postinfarction status in cohort 1 and the BMI and postinfarction in cohort 2. The PPARα intron 7C and PPARγ2 Pro variants are associated with fetuin-A levels.