An investigation of the relationship between Lepr gene Gln223Arg polymorphism and obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome

Objective: To investigate the relationship between leptin receptor (Lepr) gene Gln223Arg polymorphism and obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).

Methods: The genotypes of Gln223Arg polymorphism in Lepr gene were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) assay in 181 unrelated subjects of North region "Han" population (including 78 non-OSAHS subjects and 103 OSAHS subjects).

Results: The OSAHS patients with GG genotype had significantly larger neck circumference (NC) than did OSAHS patients with (GA + AA) genotype (P = 0.031); The study revealed no difference in genotype of Gln223Arg polymorphism between OSAHS group and non-OSAHS group (P = 0.676); There was also no significant difference in body mass index (BMI), waist hip rate (WHR), blood pressure (Bp), leptin (Lep), true insulin (TI), fast blood glucose (FBG), triglyceral (TG), cholesterol (Chol) and polysomnography (PSG) between GG and (GA + AA) genotype of OSAHS patients (P > 0.05).

Conclusions: Lepr gene Gln223Arg polymorphism may be involved in the regulation of the neck regional fat distribution in OSAHS patients. It is unlikely that Lepr gene Gln223Arg polymorphism may contribute to the pathogenesis of OSAHS.