Objective
Adipokines have been proposed as link molecules between adiposity and osteoporosis, but the relationship
between novel adipokine gene polymorphisms and bone metabolism in human is not clear. The aim of this study was to
investigate the relationship between visfatin and resistin gene polymorphisms and bone mineral density (BMD) in a
Korean population.
Methods
In 256 Korean (mean age 67.6 years; male frequency 50%), lumbar spine, total femur, femoral neck and
trochanter BMD were examined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Genotyping of visfatin -1535 T>C, -1001 T>G,
-948 G>T and resistin -420 C>G gene polymorphisms were performed by allelic discrimination using the 5' nuclease
polymerase chain reaction assay.
Results
Allele frequencies of visfatin -1535 T>C were 0.58 for T allele and 0.42 for C allele; of resistin -420 C>G
were 0.67 for C allele and 0.33 for G allele. All the frequencies of the genotypes were in compliance with Hardy-
Weinberg equilibrium. Mean BMDs of total femur were significantly higher in TT genotype compared with TC and CC
genotypes of visfatin -1535 T>C polymorphism, and this significance disappeared after adjustment for age and body
mass index (BMI). No significant differences were observed in mean BMDs of lumbar spine, femoral neck and
trochanter regarding visfatin -1535 T>C polymorphism. Mean BMDs of total femur, femoral neck and trochanter were
significantly higher in CC genotype compared with CG and GG genotypes of resistin -420 C>G polymorphism, and
these significances were persistent even after adjustment for age and BMI. Mean BMDs of lumbar spine were significantly
higher in CC genotype compared with CG and GG genotypes of resistin -420 C>G polymorphism, and this significance
disappeared after adjustment for age and BMI.
Conclusion
Resistin -420 C>G gene polymorphisms were associated with femoral BMDs in a Korean population.Thus, we can guess that resistin gene may influences on the bone mass, but it remains unclear whether the polymorphisms
in the resistin gene have a direct functional impact on the bone metabolism.
[Korean Journal of Bone Metabolism, 17(1): 39-47, 2010]
