摘要:Variations in the perilipin (
PLIN) gene have been suggested to be associated with obesity and its related alterations, but a different nutritional status seems to contribute to differences in these associations. In our study, we examined the association of several polymorphisms at the
PLIN locus with obesity and lipid profile in children, and then analyzed the mediation of plasma leptin levels on these associations. The single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs894160, rs1052700, and rs2304795 in
PLIN1, and rs35568725 in
PLIN2, were analyzed by RT-PCR in 1264 children aged 6–8 years. Our results showed a contrasting association of
PLIN1 rs1052700 with apolipoprotein (Apo) A-I levels in boys and girls, with genotype TT carriers showing significantly higher Apo A-I levels in boys and significantly lower Apo A-I levels in girls. Significant associations of the SNP
PLIN2 rs35568725 with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol), Apo A-I, and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) were observed in boys but not in girls. The associations of the SNPs studied with body mass index (BMI), NEFA, and Apo A-I in boys and girls were different depending on leptin concentration. In conclusion, we describe the mediation of plasma leptin levels in the association of SNPs in
PLIN1 and
PLIN2 with BMI, Apo A-I, and NEFA. Different leptin levels by sex may contribute to explain the sex-dependent association of the
PLIN SNPs with these variables.