From UT-Austin/MD Anderson: ACE and TPH2 SNPs related to increased physical activity; SNAP25 and CNR1 SNPs to decreased physical activity

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23190435

Genes Brain Behav. 2012 Nov 28. doi: 10.1111/gbb.12006. [Epub ahead of print]

Sensation seeking genes and physical activity in youth.

Wilkinson AV, Gabriel KP, Wang J, Bondy ML, Dong Q, Wu X, Shete S, Spitz MR.

Source

University of Texas School of Public Health, Austin Regional Campus, Austin, TX, 78701; Division of Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Center, Houston, TX, 77030.

Abstract

Many studies examining genetic influences on physical activity (PA) have evaluated the impact of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to the development of lifestyle-related chronic diseases, under the hypothesis that they would be associated with PA. However, PA is a multi-determined behavior and associated with a multitude of health consequences. Thus, examining a broader range of candidate genes associated with a boarder range of PA correlates may provide new insights into the genetic underpinnings of PA. In this study we focus on one such correlate - sensation seeking behavior. Participants (N=1,130 Mexican origin youth) provided a saliva sample and data on PA and sensation seeking tendencies in 2008-09. Participants were genotyped for 630 functional and tagging variants in the dopamine, serotonin, and cannabinoid pathways. Overall 30% of participants (males - 37.6%; females - 22.0%) reported ≥60 minutes of PA on five out of seven days. After adjusting for gender, age and population stratification, and applying the Bayesian False Discovery Probability approach for assessing noteworthiness, four gene variants were significantly associated with PA. In a multivariable model, being male, having higher sensation seeking tendencies and at least one copy of the minor allele for SNPs in ACE (rs8066276 OR=1.44;p=0.012) and TPH2 (rs11615016 OR=1.73;p=0.021) were associated with increased likelihood of meeting PA recommendations. Participants with at least one copy of the minor allele for SNPs in SNAP25 (rs363035 OR=0.53;p=0.005) and CNR1 (rs6454672 OR=0.62;p=0.022) have decreased likelihood of meeting PA recommendations. Our findings extend current knowledge of the complex relationship between PA and possible genetic underpinnings.