Resistin G–A haplotype at SNP-420/-358 is associated with the latent sarcopenic obesity index in the toon genome study

Aim/Introduction: Resistin, which induces insulin resistance, is mainly expressed in monocytes/macrophages in humans. We reported previously that serum resistin was highest in the G–A haplotype defined by resistin single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at −420 (rs1862513) and − 358 (rs3219175). As sarcopenic obesity is associated with insulin resistance, we aimed to examine whether serum resistin and its haplotypes were associated with sarcopenic obesity at a latent stage. Materials and Methods: We cross-sectionally analyzed 567 community-dwelling Japanese participants attending annual medical check-ups in which the sarcopenic obesity index was evaluated. The age- and gender-matched normal glucose tolerance subjects with G–A homozygotes and those with C–G homozygotes were examined via RNA-sequencing and pathway analysis (each n = 3), and RT-PCR (each n = 8). Results: In multivariate logistic regression analyses, the fourth quartile (Q4) of serum resistin and G–A homozygotes were both associated with the latent sarcopenic obesity index defined by a visceral fat area of ≥ 100 cm² and grip strength Q1 after adjustment for age and gender, with or without other confounding factors. RNA sequencing and pathway analysis showed that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) was involved in the top five pathways in the whole blood cells of G–A homozygotes compared with C–G homozygotes. RT-PCR revealed that TNF mRNA was higher in G–A homozygotes than in C–G homozygotes. Conclusions: The G–A haplotype was associated with the latent sarcopenic obesity index defined by grip strength in the Japanese cohort, could be mediated by TNF-α.