The insulin gene VNTR is associated with fasting insulin levels and development of juvenile obesity

Catherine Le Stunff, Daniele Fallin, Nicholas J. Schork, Pierre Bougnères

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

132 Scopus citations

Abstract

In millions of people, obesity leads to type 2 diabetes (T2D; also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus). During the early stages of juvenile obesity, the increase of insulin secretion in proportion to accumulated fat balances insulin resistance and protects patients from hyperglycaemia. After several decades, however, β-cell function deteriorates and T2D develops in approximately 20% of obese patients. In modern societies, obesity has thus become the leading risk factor for T2D (ref. 5). The factors that predispose obese patients to alteration of insulin secretion upon gaining weight remain unknown. To determine which genetic factors predispose obese patients to β-cell dysfunction, and possibly T2D, we studied single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the region of the insulin gene (INS) among 615 obese children. We found that, in the early phase of obesity, alleles of the INS variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) locus are associated with different effects of body fatness on insulin secretion. Young obese patients homozygous for class I VNTR alleles secrete more insulin than those with other genotypes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)444-446
Number of pages3
JournalNature genetics
Volume26
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 18 2000
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics

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