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Ob1, the first commmon obesity gene was located on chromosome 10

November 16, 1998

Each family has at least one member whose body mass index (BMI, the ratio of the weight in kg to the surface of the body in m2; normal BMI is below 25) is higher than 40 and at least one other member whose BMI is over 27. 380 genetic markers, covering 23 pairs of chromosomes, were studied in order to find genetic similarities between the obese members of these families. Genetic analysis showed a very high correlation between obesity and the ob1 gene (the probability of such a correlation is 100,000 to 1). The ob1 gene can probably explain the 1/3 genetic risk of obesity in the French population. Two other chromosome regions, located on chromosomes 2 and 5 (1p1 and 1p2) influence the leptin rate, a hormone produced by fat tissue, which controls appetite and energy expenditure.

This is the first time a gene playing a major role in common obesity - a disease which affects 8% of the French population - is located. This discovery will make it possible, once the ob1 gene is identified, to understand the molecular basis of common obesity. Since 1997, several genes responsible for very severe, but rare monogenic forms of obesity have been identified, such as the leptin gene, the leptin receptor and the MC4 receptor. These genes, however, do not seem to play an important part in common polygenic forms of obesity. In 1995, the CNRS EP 10 team had shown that the beta-3 adrenergic receptor could play a role in obesity, but that this role was minor.
The discovery of the genetic factors responsible for common forms of obesity will lead to the development of new medication to treat this disease. In March 1998, an agreement was signed between the CNRS, the University of Columbia in New York, the British Diabetic Association and the Eli-Lilly pharmaceutical society. The aim of this agreement is to determine targets for the development of new drugs. These findings represent the first successful outcome of this international collaboration





CNRS (Délégation Ile-de-France Ouest & Nord)



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