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

Adela Chirita-Emandi; Costela Lacrimioara Serban; Corina Paul; Nicoleta Andreescu; Iulian Velea; Alexandra Mihailescu; Vlad Serafim; Diana-Andreea Tiugan; Paul Tutac; Cristian Zimbru; Maria Puiu; Mihai Dinu Niculescu

doi:10.2147/DMSO.S277268

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

Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2020 Nov 19:13:4483-4494. doi: 10.2147/DMSO.S277268. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Adela Chirita-Emandi^#^{1

2}, Costela Lacrimioara Serban^#^{2

3}, Corina Paul^#^{4

5}, Nicoleta Andreescu^{1

2}, Iulian Velea^{4

5}, Alexandra Mihailescu¹, Vlad Serafim^{1

6}, Diana-Andreea Tiugan¹, Paul Tutac¹, Cristian Zimbru^{1

7}, Maria Puiu^{1

2}, Mihai Dinu Niculescu^{1

8}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microscopic Morphology - Genetics, Center of Genomic Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes", Timisoara, Romania.
² Regional Center of Medical Genetics Timis, Clinical Emergency Hospital for Children "Louis Turcanu", Timisoara, Romania.
³ Department of Functional Sciences, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes", Timisoara, Romania.
⁴ Pediatrics Department - Pediatrics Discipline II, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes", Timisoara, Romania.
⁵ Pediatrics, Endocrinology and Diabetes Department, Clinic II Pediatrics, "Pius Branzeu" Clinical Emergency County Hospital, Timisoara, Romania.
⁶ The National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Bucharest, Romania.
⁷ Department of Automation and Applied Informatics, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania.
⁸ Advanced Nutrigenomics, Cary, NC 27511, USA.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Introduction: 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: CHDH-PNPLA3; children; choline; gene–gene interaction; insulin-resistance; obesity.

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02837367

Grants and funding

This research was funded by the POC Project “Use of nutrigenomic models for the personalized treatment with medical foods in obese people” (NutriGen) 2016–2019, SMIS: 104852, 91/09.09.2016, ID P_37-684. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.