Ghrelin receptor gene polymorphisms and body size in children and adults

Background The growth hormone secretagogue receptor type 1a gene ( ) encodes the cognate receptor of ghrelin, a gut hormone that regulates GHSR food intake and pituitary growth hormone secretion. Previous studies in US families and in a German population suggested to be a GHSR candidate quantitative locus for association with human obesity and growth. Aim To test common genetic variation in for association with body size in children and adults. GHSR Methods Sequencing was performed to systematically identify novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in . A set of three GHSR haplotype-tagging (ht)SNPs was identified which captured all the genetic variation in . These three htSNPs were then genotyped in GHSR three large population-based UK cohort studies (two adult and one childhood cohort) comprising 5,807 adults and 843 children. Results No significant genotype or haplotype associations were found with adult or childhood height, weight or BMI. Conclusion Common variation in is not associated with body size in UK adults or children. GHSR Author