Leptin deficiency and leptin gene mutations in obese children from Pakistan

Background : Congenital leptin deficiency is a rare human genetic condition clinically characterized by hyperphagia and acute weight gain usually during the first postnatal year. The worldwide data on this disorder includes only 14 cases and four pathogenic mutations have been reported in the leptin gene. Study objective : The objectives of this study were to measure serum leptin levels in obese children and to detect leptin gene mutations in those found to be leptin deficient. Patients and results : A total of 25 obese children were recruited for the study. Leptin deficiency was detected in nine of them. Leptin gene sequencing identified mutations in homozygous state in all the leptin deficient children. Two cases carried novel mutations (c.481_482delCT and c.104_106delTCA) and each of the remaining seven the previously reported frameshift mutation (c.398delG). Conclusion : The results suggest that leptin deficiency caused by mutations in the leptin gene may frequently be seen in obese Pakistani children from Central Punjab.