CRG and CREAL identify genes involved
in cranial size and childhood obesity
-
Two collaborative studies involving the Centre for Research in
Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL) and the Centre for Genomic
Regulation (CRG) have identified a number of genes involved in the size
of the cranial perimeter and in childhood obesity
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Study carried out on more than 10,000 children in Europe
Barcelona, May 2, 2012.- Two collaborative studies involving the Centre for Research
in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL) and the Centre for Genomic Regulation
(CRG) have identified a number of genes involved in the size of the cranial perimeter
and in childhood obesity.
In the first case, these results may help to understand the mechanisms involved in
neurodevelopment, as well as mental retardation and behavioural and cognitive
problems. Specifically this research, published in the journal Nature Genetics, identifies
two genetic variants in the genes SBNO1 and HMGA2 associated with the cranial
perimeter of children aged between six months and two and a half years old. These
genes have previously been linked to height reached in adulthood. An association with
a variant in the region where the CRHR1/MAPT genes are found was also discovered.
Other studies have also associated the MAPT gene with intracranial volume in adults,
Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
In the second study it was shown that there is overlap between the genes associated
with obesity in adults and obesity in children, as of the 9 genes solidly identified, 7 had
been previously linked to obesity in adults. The study also identified, for the first time, 2
further genes (HOXB5 and OLFM4), related to the regulation of various intestinal
functions.
These two investigations were based on seven studies of genetic associations in a total
of 10,768 European children. Both studies were led from the EGG (Early Growth
Genetics) consortium which includes cohorts from around Europe with the aim of
combining data from infant cohorts to identify genetic variants involved in several
important childhood traits (e.g., obesity and birth weight). Participating in a study of this
importance makes the Spanish researchers involved very proud. Jordi Sunyer is
deputy scientific director of the CREAL and a researcher at the IMIM, Research
Institute of the Hospital del Mar and lecturer at the University Pompeu Fabra, Mònica
Guxens and Mariona Bustamante are CREAL researchers, and Xavier Estivill, is the
coordinator of the CRG Genes and Disease programme.
Reference articles:
- Taal HR, St Pourcain B, Thiering E, Das S, O Mook-Kanamori D, et al. “Common
variants at 12q15 and 12q14 are associated with infant head circumference” Nature
Genetics. (2012). doi:10.1038/ng.2238
- Bradfield JP, Taal HR, Timpson NJ, Scherag A, et al. “A genome-wide association
meta-analysis identifies new childhood obesity loci” Nature Genetics (2012). doi:
10.1038/ng.2247
For further information, please contact:
- Laia Cendrós, CRG Press Office: laia.cendros@crg.eu – Tel.: 93 316 02 37 –
607611798
- Gisela Sanmartín, CREAL head of communication: gsanmartin@creal.cat Tel.: 93 214 73 33 - 696912841