This paper presents the 12th update of the human obesity gene map, which incorporates published results up to the end of October 2005. Evidence from single-gene mutation obesity cases, Mendelian disorders exhibiting obesity as a clinical feature, transgenic and knockout murine models relevant to obesity, quantitative trait loci (QTL) from animal cross-breeding experiments, association studies with candidate genes, and linkages from genome scans is reviewed. As of October 2005, 176 human obesity cases due to single-gene mutations in 11 different genes have been reported, 50 loci related to Mendelian syndromes relevant to human obesity have been mapped to a genomic region, and causal genes or strong candidates have been identified for most of these syndromes. There are 244 genes that, when mutated or expressed as transgenes in the mouse, result in phenotypes that affect body weight and adiposity. The number of QTLs reported from animal models currently reaches 408. The number of human obesity QTLs derived from genome scans continues to grow, and we now have 253 QTLs for obesity-related phenotypes from 61 genome-wide scans. A total of 52 genomic regions harbor QTLs supported by two or more studies. The number of studies reporting associations between DNA sequence variation in specific genes and obesity phenotypes has also increased considerably, with 426 findings of positive associations with 127 candidate genes. A promising observation is that 22 genes are each supported by at least five positive studies. The obesity gene map shows putative loci on all chromosomes except Y. The electronic version of the map with links to useful publications and relevant sites can be found at http://obesitygene.pbrc.edu.

/pdf/the-human-obesity-gene-map-the-2005-update-3zvtci1u6f.pdf

The human obesity gene map: the 2005 update.

A report of two cases

Lipid droplets are storage organelles at the centre of lipid and energy homeostasis. They have a unique architecture consisting of a hydrophobic core of neutral lipids, which is enclosed by a phospholipid monolayer that is decorated by a specific set of proteins. Originating from the endoplasmic reticulum, lipid droplets can associate with most other cellular organelles through membrane contact sites. It is becoming apparent that these contacts between lipid droplets and other organelles are highly dynamic and coupled to the cycles of lipid droplet expansion and shrinkage. Importantly, lipid droplet biogenesis and degradation, as well as their interactions with other organelles, are tightly coupled to cellular metabolism and are critical to buffer the levels of toxic lipid species. Thus, lipid droplets facilitate the coordination and communication between different organelles and act as vital hubs of cellular metabolism.

Dynamics and functions of lipid droplets

Background The adipocyte hormone leptin is important in regulating energy homeostasis. Since severe lipodystrophy is associated with leptin deficiency, insulin resistance, hypertriglyceridemia, and hepatic steatosis, we assessed whether leptin replacement would ameliorate this condition. Methods Nine female patients (age range, 15 to 42 years; eight with diabetes mellitus) who had lipodystrophy and serum leptin levels of less than 4 ng per milliliter (0.32 nmol per milliliter) received recombinant methionyl human leptin (recombinant leptin). Recombinant leptin was administered subcutaneously twice a day for four months at escalating doses to achieve low, intermediate, and high physiologic replacement levels of leptin. Results During treatment with recombinant leptin, the serum leptin level increased from a mean (±SE) of 1.3±0.3 ng per milliliter to 11.1±2.5 ng per milliliter (0.1±0.02 to 0.9±0.2 nmol per milliliter). The absolute decrease in the glycosylated hemoglobin value was 1.9 percent (95 percent co...

https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMoa012437

Leptin-replacement therapy for lipodystrophy.

This paper presents the eleventh update of the human obesity gene map, which incorporates published results up to the end of October 2004. Evidence from single-gene mutation obesity cases, Mendelian disorders exhibiting obesity as a clinical feature, transgenic and knockout murine models relevant to obesity, quantitative trait loci (QTLs) from animal cross-breeding experiments, association studies with candidate genes, and linkages from genome scans is reviewed. As of October 2004, 173 human obesity cases due to single-gene mutations in 10 different genes have been reported, and 49 loci related to Mendelian syndromes relevant to human obesity have been mapped to a genomic region, and causal genes or strong candidates have been identified for most of these syndromes. There are 166 genes which, when mutated or expressed as transgenes in the mouse, result in phenotypes that affect body weight and adiposity. The number of QTLs reported from animal models currently reaches 221. The number of human obesity QTLs derived from genome scans continues to grow, and we have now 204 QTLs for obesity-related phenotypes from 50 genome-wide scans. A total of 38 genomic regions harbor QTLs replicated among two to four studies. The number of studies reporting associations between DNA sequence variation in specific genes and obesity phenotypes has also increased considerably with 358 findings of positive associations with 113 candidate genes. Among them, 18 genes are supported by at least five positive studies. The obesity gene map shows putative loci on all chromosomes except Y. Overall, >600 genes, markers, and chromosomal regions have been associated or linked with human obesity phenotypes. The electronic version of the map with links to useful publications and genomic and other relevant sites can be found at http://obesitygene.pbrc.edu.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1038/oby.2005.50

The human obesity gene map: the 2004 update.

Congenital generalized lipodystrophy, or Berardinelli-Seip syndrome (BSCL), is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by a near-absence of adipose tissue from birth or early infancy and severe insulin resistance Other clinical and biological features include acanthosis nigricans, hyperandrogenism, muscular hypertrophy, hepatomegaly, altered glucose tolerance or diabetes mellitus, and hypertriglyceridemia A locus (BSCL1) has been mapped to 9q34 with evidence of heterogeneity Here, we report a genome screen of nine BSCL families from two geographical clusters (in Lebanon and Norway) We identified a new disease locus, designated BSCL2, within the 25-Mb interval flanked by markers D11S4076 and D11S480 on chromosome 11q13 Analysis of 20 additional families of various ethnic origins led to the identification of 11 families in which the disease cosegregates with the 11q13 locus; the remaining families provide confirmation of linkage to 9q34 Sequence analysis of genes located in the 11q13 interval disclosed mutations in a gene homologous to the murine guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein), gamma3-linked gene (Gng3lg) in all BSCL2-linked families BSCL2 is most highly expressed in brain and testis and encodes a protein (which we have called seipin) of unknown function Most of the variants are null mutations and probably result in a severe disruption of the protein These findings are of general importance for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying regulation of body fat distribution and insulin resistance

P. Freitas

Papers

Identification of the gene altered in Berardinelli-Seip congenital lipodystrophy on chromosome 11q13.

Berardinelli-Seip syndrome: a new Portuguese disease?