FADS2 Genetic Variance in Combination with Fatty Acid Intake Might Alter Composition of the Fatty Acids in Brain

Thais S Rizzi; Sophie van der Sluis; Catherine Derom; Evert Thiery; Ronald E van Kesteren; Nele Jacobs; Sofie Van Gestel; Robert Vlietinck; Matthijs Verhage; Peter Heutink; Danielle Posthuma

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0068000

FADS2 Genetic Variance in Combination with Fatty Acid Intake Might Alter Composition of the Fatty Acids in Brain

PLoS One. 2013 Jun 27;8(6):e68000. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068000. Print 2013.

Authors

Thais S Rizzi¹, Sophie van der Sluis, Catherine Derom, Evert Thiery, Ronald E van Kesteren, Nele Jacobs, Sofie Van Gestel, Robert Vlietinck, Matthijs Verhage, Peter Heutink, Danielle Posthuma

Affiliation

¹ Department of Clinical Genetics, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands ; Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Abstract

Multiple lines of evidence suggest that fatty acids (FA) play an important role in cognitive function. However, little is known about the functional genetic pathways involved in cognition. The main goals of this study were to replicate previously reported interaction effects between breast feeding (BF) and FA desaturase (FADS) genetic variation on IQ and to investigate the possible mechanisms by which these variants might moderate BF effect, focusing on brain expression. Using a sample of 534 twins, we observed a trend in the moderation of BF effects on IQ by FADS2 variation. In addition, we made use of publicly available gene expression databases from both humans (193) and mice (93) and showed that FADS2 variants also correlate with FADS1 brain expression (P-value<1.1E-03). Our results provide novel clues for the understanding of the genetic mechanisms regulating FA brain expression and improve the current knowledge of the FADS moderation effect on cognition.

Publication types

Twin Study

MeSH terms

Aged
Animals
Brain / metabolism*
Child
Databases, Genetic
Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase
Diet*
Fatty Acid Desaturases / genetics*
Fatty Acid Desaturases / metabolism
Fatty Acids / metabolism*
Female
Gene Expression
Genetic Variation*
Humans
Intelligence / genetics
Intelligence / physiology
Male
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Mice, Inbred DBA

Substances

Delta-5 Fatty Acid Desaturase
Fatty Acids
Fatty Acid Desaturases
FADS1 protein, human
FADS1 protein, mouse
FADS2 protein, human
FADS2 protein, mouse

Grants and funding

This research was supported by grants from the Marguerite-Marie Delacroix Foundation and Twins, a nonprofit Association for Scientific Research in Multiple Births (Belgium). Statistical analyses were carried out on the Genetic Cluster Computer (http://www.geneticcluster.org), which is financially supported by the Netherlands Scientific Organization (NWO 480-05-003). Sophie van der Sluis (VENI-451-08-025) is financially supported by the Netherlands Scientific Organization (Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, gebied Maatschappij-en Gedragswetenschappen: NWO/MaGW). The authors further wish to acknowledge the financial support of NWO-VI-016-065-318, and the Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive research (CNCR). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.