β2-Adrenoceptor Polymorphisms Relate to Obesity Through Blunted Leptin-Mediated Sympathetic Activation

Background Obesity is a growing public health problem. It has been reported that β2-adrenoceptor polymorphisms are associated with obesity. This study examines the associations of β2-adrenoceptor polymorphism with relationships between plasma norepinephrine (NE) and leptin to evaluate further the mechanisms of obesity. Methods In 329 normotensive (BP <140/90 mm Hg) men with a wide range of BMI (17.0 to 36.5 kg/m2), we measured BMI, total body fat mass, waist-to-hip ratio (W/H), BP, plasma NE, leptin, and the β2–(Arg16Gly, Gln27Glu) adrenoceptor polymorphisms. The subjects consisted of 206 nonobese (BMI <25 kg/m2) and 123 overweight or obese (BMI ≥25 kg/m2) men. Results Overweight or obese subjects had a significantly higher frequency of Gly16 and Glu27 alleles compared with nonobese subjects. The subjects carrying Gly16 or Glu27 alleles regardless of BMI had greater total fat mass, W/H and plasma leptin compared with those without the Gly16 or Glu27 alleles, indicating that Gly16 and Glu27 alleles of the β2-adrenoceptor gene are related to obesity and fat mass. Only in the nonobese subjects who carried the Gly16 and Glu27 alleles was there a high plasma NE level, but similar in overweight or obese subjects. To evaluate leptin-mediated sympathetic activation, we performed linear regression analyses between plasma leptin and NE. In groups with and without the Gly16 or Glu27 alleles, plasma leptin correlated with NE, but the slope in the group carrying the Gly16 or Glu27 allele was significantly lower than that without the Gly16 or Glu27. Conclusions The findings demonstrate a strong and significant association of the Gly16 and Glu27 alleles with obesity. Lower slopes between leptin and NE in the subjects carrying these β2-adrenoceptor polymorphisms indirectly indicate a blunted leptin-mediated sympathetic nerve activity. We propose that the β2-adrenoceptor polymorphisms related to blunted leptin-mediated sympathetic activation offers further proof for the mechanisms of obesity.