Genetic markers of inflammation may not contribute to metabolic traits in Mexican children.

Background: Low-grade chronic inflammation is a common feature of obesity and its cardio-metabolic complications. However, little is known about a possible causal role of inflammation in metabolic disorders. Mexico is among the countries with the highest obesity rates in the world and the admixed Mexican population is a relevant sample due to high levels of genetic diversity.

Methods: Here, we studied 1,462 Mexican children recruited from Mexico City. Six genetic variants in five inflammation-related genes were genotyped: rs1137101 (leptin receptor (LEPR)), rs7305618 (hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 alpha (HNF1A)), rs1800629 (tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFA)), rs1800896, rs1800871 (interleukin-10 (IL-10)), rs1862513 (resistin (RETN)). Ten continuous and eight binary traits were assessed. Linear and logistic regression models were used adjusting for age, sex, and recruitment centre.

Results: We found that one SNP displayed a nominal evidence of association with a continuous trait: rs1800871 (IL-10) with LDL (beta = -0.068 ± 1.006, P = 0.01). Subsequently, we found one nominal association with a binary trait: rs7305618 (HNF1A) with family history of hypertension (odds-ratio = 1.389 [1.054-1.829], P = 0.02). However, no P-value passed the Bonferroni correction for multiple testing.

Discussion: Our data in a Mexican children population are consistent with previous reports in European adults in failing to demonstrate an association between inflammation-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and metabolic traits.