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Variations in the uncoupling protein-3 gene are associated with specific obesity phenotypes

¹ Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Room STR 6.131, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands² Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3585 CG Utrecht, The Netherlands

(Correspondence should be addressed to Y T van der Schouw; Email: y.t.vanderschouw{at}umcutrecht.nl)

Objective: Uncoupling protein 3 (UCP-3) uncouples oxidative metabolism from ATP synthesis, resulting in the production of heat instead of energy storage. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in UCP-3 might result in a reduced function or expression of UCP-3 and therefore lead to an increased capacity to store energy as fat.

Design: We conducted a population-based, cross-sectional single-center study among 400 Dutch men between 40 and 80 years.

Methods: Seven SNPs in the UCP-3 gene were genotyped by means of an allele-specific real-time TaqMan PCR. Linear regression analyses were performed to examine the independent effects of these SNPs on obesity phenotypes.

Results: We found a significant association between homozygosity for the minor allele of rs647126, rs1685356, and rs2075577 and an increase in body mass index (BMI; P=0.033, P=0.016, and P=0.019 respectively). Heterozygosity for rs1685354 was associated with a significant decrease in visceral fat mass (P=0.030).

Conclusions: Our results suggest that genetic variations in the UCP-3 gene are associated with an increase in BMI. A plausible mechanism by which these SNPs lead to an increase in BMI is that due to these SNPs, the UCP-3 activity might be decreased. As a result, uncoupling activity may also decrease, which will lead to an increase in body weight and BMI.