NPAS2 and PER2 are linked to risk factors of the metabolic syndrome

Authors

  • Ani Englund Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, FI-00300 Helsinki
  • Leena Kovanen Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, FI-00300 Helsinki
  • Sirkku T Saarikoski Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, FI-00300 Helsinki
  • Jari Haukka Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, FI-00300 Helsinki, Finland Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology Cluster, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France
  • Antti Reunanen Department of Health and Functional Capacity National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, FI-00300 Helsinki
  • Arpo Aromaa Department of Health and Functional Capacity National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, FI-00300 Helsinki
  • Jouko Lönnqvist Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, FI-00300 Helsinki
  • Timo Partonen Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, FI-00300 Helsinki

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1186/1740-3391-7-5

Abstract

Background: Mammalian circadian clocks control multiple physiological events. The principal circadian clock generates seasonal variations in behavior as well. Seasonality elevates the risk for metabolic syndrome, and evidence suggests that disruption of the clockwork can lead to alterations in metabolism. Our aim was to analyze whether circadian clock polymorphisms contribute to seasonal variations in behavior and to the metabolic syndrome.

Methods: We genotyped 39 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) from 19 genes which were either canonical circadian clock genes or genes related to the circadian clockwork from 517 individuals drawn from a nationwide population-based sample. Associations between these SNPs and seasonality, metabolic syndrome and its risk factors were analyzed using regression analysis. The p-values were corrected for multiple testing.

Results: Our findings link circadian gene variants to the risk factors of the metabolic syndrome, since Npas2 was associated with hypertension (P-value corrected for multiple testing = 0.0024) and Per2 was associated with high fasting blood glucose (P-value corrected for multiple testing = 0.049).

Conclusion: Our findings support the view that relevant relationships between circadian clocks and the metabolic syndrome in humans exist.

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Published

2009-05-26

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Section

Research Article