Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #227492
Title: A quantitative trait locus on chromosome 13q affects fasting glucose levels in Hispanic children

Author
item CAI, GUOWEN - BAYLOR COLLEGE MED
item COLE, SHELLEY - SWFBR, SAN ANTONIO, TX
item Butte, Nancy
item VORUGANTI, V SAROJA - SWFBR, SAN ANTONIO, TX
item COMUZZIE, ANTHONY - SWFBR, SAN ANTONIO, TX

Submitted to: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/27/2007
Publication Date: 12/1/2007
Citation: Cai, G., Cole, S.A., Butte, N.F., Voruganti, V.S., Comuzzie, A.G. 2007. A quantitative trait locus on chromosome 13q affects fasting glucose levels in Hispanic children. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 92(12):4893-4896.

Interpretive Summary: Childhood obesity is associated with early presentation of type 2 diabetes, especially in the Hispanic population. A number of genetic studies in adults suggest that an increasing number of genes may underlie predisposition to obesity and type 2 diabetes. The objective of this study was to identify chromosomal regions influencing fasting serum glucose levels in Hispanic children. A genome scan was done on 1030 Hispanic children enrolled in the VIVA LA FAMILIA Study which was designed to identify genes associated with childhood obesity and its comorbidities in the Hispanic population. A gene on chromosome 13q contributes to the variation in fasting serum glucose levels in Hispanic children at high risk for obesity. Fine mapping of this chromosomal region will identify a gene contributing to the increased susceptibility to type 2 diabetes in the Hispanic population.

Technical Abstract: The prevalence of childhood obesity has increased dramatically in the United States. Early presentation of type 2 diabetes has been observed in children and adolescents, especially in the Hispanic population. The genetic contribution of glucose homeostasis related to childhood obesity is poorly understood. The objective of this study was to localize quantitative trait loci influencing fasting serum glucose levels in Hispanic children participating in the Viva La Familia Study. Subjects were 1030 children from 319 Hispanic families. To qualify for the study the family had at least one overweight child. Fasting serum glucose levels were measured enzymatically, and genetic linkage analyses were conducted using SOLAR software. Fasting glucose was heritable, with a heritability of 0.62 +/- 0.08 (P < 0.01). Genome-wide scan mapped fasting serum glucose to markers D13S158-D13S173 on chromosome 13q (LOD score of 4.6). A strong positional candidate gene is insulin receptor substrate 2, regulator of glucose homeostasis and a candidate gene for obesity. This region was reported previously to be linked to obesity- and diabetes-related phenotypes. A quantitative trait locus on chromosome 13q contributes to the variation in fasting serum glucose levels in Hispanic children at high risk for obesity.