Possible influence of BCHE locus of butyrylcholinesterase on stature and body mass index

Abstract

Butyrylcholinesterase activity has been shown to be positively associated with weight and body mass index (BMI). The present study was carried out to search for an association between variants of the BCHE gene and weight, stature, and BMI on the basis of means and variances compared between nonusual variants and their respective usual controls. Individuals bearing the atypical mutation (N = 52) did not differ from their usual phenotype controls (N = 104) in these parameters. The BCHE*U/BCHE*K individuals (N = 222) presented a significantly higher BMI variance than their BCHE*U/BCHE*U controls (N = 222, F = 1.40, P = 0.012). This higher BMI variance does not seem to be an isolated effect of the K mutation, but appears to be the result of an interaction between the K allele and the usual allele, since no such difference in variance was detected between BCHE*K/BCHE*K individuals (N = 23) and their BCHE*U/BCHE*U (N = 23) controls. These data may suggest a relation between variability in the BCHE locus itself and BMI. Individuals with the BCHE UF phenotype (N = 45) showed a significantly higher mean stature (about 3 cm more; P = 0.02) than their controls with the usual phenotype (N = 135). A role in cell proliferation has been proposed for BCHE, and since growth depends on the number of mitoses, it is not unexpected that variants of this enzyme may influence body stature in different ways. This study reports the first data on the relation of BCHE alleles to anthropometric characters.

Paraoxonase status and plasma butyrylcholinesterase activity in chlorpyrifos manufacturing workers

“…Although we did not have access to measures of serum lipids, the positive associations we found between BuChE activity and larger BMI, heavier weight, and shorter height are consistent with the associations with overweight reported above. The positive associations between BuChE activity and BMI and weight or stature have been attributed to a possible genetic relation between BuChE alleles and anthropometric characteristics (Souza et al, 2005). What we did not find was evidence that BuChE activity was significantly modified by the PON1 192 inferred genotype or CPOase activity.…”

Butyrylcholinesterase genetic variability in Guarani Amerindians from the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul

“…The primers used were N25 and N23, N75 and N73 (Souza et al, 2005), P35 and P33 (Höler et al, 1995), AP5 (Bartels et al 1992b) and P43 (Höler et al, 1995), for the amplification of DNA sequences containing the D70G and G390V mutation sites (exon 2), exons 3 and 4 (A539T mutation), respectively. SSCA (Single Strand Conformation Analysis) was used for variant detection.…”

Effects of physical exercise on butyrylcholinesterase in obese adolescents

“…Several studies verified that BChE has a role in lipid metabolism (Kutty et al , 1977), and is correlated with weight (Chautard-Freire-Maia et al , 1991; Li et al , 2008) and body mass index (Alcântara et al , 2001, 2003; Souza et al , 2005; Furtado-Alle et al , 2008). It is also known that plasma BChE activity is positively correlated with obesity (Kutty, 1980; Chautard-Freire-Maia et al , 1991; Furtado-Alle et al , 2008).…”