The Correlation of Increased CRP Levels with NFKB 1 and TLR 2 Polymorphisms in the Case of Morbid Obesity

Morbid obesity ( MO ) is associated with an increase in circulating levels of systemic acute phase proteins such as C‐reactive protein ( CRP ). Toll‐like receptor is possible candidate for inflammatory responses which is mainly mediated by NFKB 1. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between NFKB 1 and Toll‐like receptor ( TLR ) 2 polymorphisms and the risk of MO in a Turkish population in the context of CRP serum levels which may contribute to susceptibility to the disease. We analysed the distribution of NFKB 1‐94 ins/del ATTG rs28362491 and TLR 2 Arg753Gln rs5743708 polymorphisms using PCR ‐ RFLP method and CRP serum levels using ELISA method in 213 MO and 200 healthy controls. The frequency of the ins/ins genotype and ins allele of rs28362491 was significantly higher in the patients compared to control group ( P : 0.0309; P : 0.0421, respectively). Additionally, the frequency of GG genotype and G allele of rs5743708 was found to be statistically higher in the patient group ( P : 0.0421; P < 0.0001, respectively). In addition, serum CRP levels (>20 mg/l) in MO patients with ins/ins genotype were significantly higher than in patients with del/ins genotype ( P : 0.0309). Serum CRP levels were also higher in MO patients with GG genotype and G allele ( P : 0.0001). According to combined analysis, the wild type of rs28362491 and rs5743708 polymorphisms (ins/ins/ GG genotype) was also significantly higher in the patient group versus the control group when compared with the combined ins/ins/ GA and del/ins/ GA genotype ( P < 0.0001). Therefore, our findings suggest that rs28362491 and rs5743708 polymorphisms were significantly associated with MO disease through acting by modulating serum CRP levels.