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Urate transporter gene SLC22A12 polymorphisms associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome in Caucasians with hypertension.
Shafiu, M, Johnson, RJ, Turner, ST, Langaee, T, Gong, Y, Chapman, AB, Gums, JG, Johnson, JA
Kidney & blood pressure research. 2012;(6):477-82
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hyperuricemia is associated with obesity and the metabolic syndrome. URAT1 is a urate transporter, and we tested the association of URAT1 transporter gene (SLC22A12) polymorphisms with obesity and the metabolic syndrome in hypertensive subjects. METHODS Patients with essential hypertension (n = 414) from a randomized controlled study were genotyped for SLC22A12 SNPs rs11602903, rs505802 and rs11231825. RESULTS In Caucasians, SLC22A12 SNPs were associated with the body mass index (BMI). rs11602903 was associated with BMI (p < 0.0001), waist circumference (p = 0.003), HDL cholesterol (p = 0.018) and the metabolic syndrome (p = 0.033), and accounted for 7% of the variation of BMI in Caucasians. In African Americans, SLC22A12 SNP rs11602903 was not associated with BMI, waist circumference, HDL cholesterol or triglycerides. CONCLUSION The URAT1 gene SLC22A12 polymorphism may play a role in obesity and the metabolic syndrome in Caucasian hypertensive subjects.