Polymorphism of CD36 gene, carbohydrate metabolism and plasma CD36 concentration in obese children. A preliminary study* Polimorfizm genu CD36 a gospodarka węglowodanowa i osoczowe stężenie CD36 u dzieci otyłych. Doniesienie wstępne

Summary Introduction: CD36 may play an important role in removal of oxidized LDLs from plasma, protein glycation, the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and diabetic micro- and macroangiopathy. Some reports have pointed to decreased expression of macrophages in association with mutations of the CD36 gene in hyperglycemic and obese subjects. The aim of the study was to search for an association between CD36 gene polymorphism and carbohydrate metabolism disturbances or variability of plasma soluble CD36 concentrations in obese children. Material/Methods: The study included 60 children aged 10 to 15 years: 30 with (study group) and 30 without (control group) obesity. Each patient's glycated hemoglobin, weight, height, waist and hip circumference, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured, BMI, WHR and MAP were calculated, and oral glucose tolerance test was performed with glucose and insulin concentration measure- ments. Amplicons of exons 4-6 of CD36 were studied using DHPLC technique. The PCR products with alterations were bidirectionally sequenced. Plasma concentrations of human antigen CD36 was measured using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: We found two intronic alterations: IVS3-6 T/C (rs3173798) and IVS4-10 G/A (rs3211892), one non- synonymous substitution: G367A (Glu123Lys, rs183461468) in exon 5 and two synonymous trans- itions in exon 6: G573A (Pro191Pro, rs5956) and A591T (Thr197Thr, rs141680676). There were no significant differences in any biochemical or morphometric parameters between genotype groups. Discussion: The polymorphisms of the studied fragment of CD36 are not associated with carbohydrate meta- bolism disturbances or the variability of plasma soluble CD36 concentrations in obese children, but further research is necessary to assess their functional implications.