Expression of galectin 9 mRNA in lactose maldigestion and children’s obesity

Introduction: To investigate the association of mRNA expression of galectin-9 (Gal-9) and lactose maldigestion in obese children with different genotypes [13910 С>T polymorphism (rs4988235) of MCM6 (minichromosome maintenance complex 6]. Methods: The study involved 85 obese children (BMI>97 percentile) aged 6-18 years. The definition of MCM6 polymorphism (material for investigation-venous blood) and expression of Gal-9 mRNA (material for investigation-buccal epithelium) were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis using actin as a housekeeping gene ∆mRNA-Gal-9/mRNA actin, relation units-RU. Lactose maldigestion was studied using hydrogen breath testing. The first group of observations included 44 children with genotype C/C -13910, the second group consisted of 41 children with phenotypically identical genotypes C/T -13910, and T/T -13910, p>0.05. Results: Lactose maldigestion in children with genotype C/C -13910 averaged 36.05±4.73 ppm, in children with genotype C/T -13910 22.61±4.1 ppm (p<0.05), and with genotype T/T -13910 was absent (p<0.05). The average expression level of Gal-9 mRNA in children with genotype C/C -13910 was 564.6±35.8, in children with genotypes C/T and T/T -13910 61.02±15.8 RU, p<0.01. The lowest mean level of expression of Gal-9 mRNA (42.47±13.4) was recorded in the subgroup of children with genotype C/C -13910 and lactose maldigestion (n=22). Whereas the largest mean level of expression of Gal-9 mRNA was recorded in the subgroup of children with the C/C -13910 genotype and without lactose maldigestion (n=22) 1086.73±51.2, p