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Single‐Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the TNF Gene Are Associated With Obesity‐Related Phenotypes in Vervet Monkeys
Author(s) -
Gray Stanton B.,
Langefeld Carl D.,
Ziegler Julie T.,
Hawkins Gregory A.,
Wagner Janice D.,
Howard Timothy D.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1038/oby.2011.19
Subject(s) - single nucleotide polymorphism , haplotype , biology , phenotype , vervet monkey , genetics , obesity , snp , genetic association , gene , genotype , endocrinology , evolutionary biology
Tumor necrosis factor ( TNF ) promoter single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been extensively characterized in humans, with numerous reports of associations with obesity‐related phenotypes as well an array of infectious, immune‐mediated, and inflammatory disease phenotypes. Controlling for the multitude of environmental risk factors in human studies has been a major confounder of efforts to elucidate the role and relative contribution of TNF promoter SNPs. As part of an ongoing initiative to further genetically and phenotypically characterize the St Kitts‐origin vervet monkey ( Chlorocebus aethiops ssp.) as an animal model of human obesity, we have conducted association analyses between TNF SNPs and previously defined obesity‐related phenotypes in 265 pedigreed vervets. We report eight SNPs (−809G, −756A, −352C, −322A, +1285T, +2133T, +2362A, +2405), all contained within the same haplotype block and comprising a single haplotype, to be significantly associated with BMI, waist circumference, total plasma cholesterol ( P < 0.05), and high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (HDL‐C) ( P < 0.01). This study provides additional validation of the St Kitts‐origin vervet model of obesity by demonstrating genetic associations analogous to that shown in humans.