Haptoglobin 2-2 Genotype Is Associated with TNF-αand IL-6 Levels in Subjects with Obesity

Abstract

Objective. To evaluate the association between Haptoglobin (HP) gene polymorphisms with inflammatory status in obese subjects.Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out. A total of 276 apparently healthy men and nonpregnant obese women were enrolled and allocated according to theHPgenotype into theHP1/HP1,HP2/HP1, andHP2/HP2groups. Distribution ofHPgenotypes was 49, 87, and 140 for theHP1/HP1,HP2/HP1, andHP2/HP2, respectively. TheHPgenotype was determined using the polymerase chain reaction method. A multiple linear regression analysis adjusted by age, sex, waist circumference, and total body fat was used to determine the association betweenHPgenotypes with TNF-α, IL-6, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels.Results. A multiple linear regression analysis adjusted by sex, waist circumference, and total body fat was performed showing a significant association between theHP2/HP2genotype and TNF-α(β= 0.180; 95% CI 14.41–159.64,P= 0.01) and IL-6 (β= 0.188; 95% CI 1.53–12.72,P= 0.01) levels, but not with hsCRP (β= −0.008; 95% CI −1.64–1.47,P= 0.914) levels, whereas theHP2/HP1genotype showed no association compared with theHP1/HP1genotype (control group).Conclusion. Results of our study show that theHP2/HP2genotype is associated with elevated TNF-αand IL-6, but not with hsCRP, levels in obese subjects.