Association of MTNR1B Gene Polymorphisms with Body Mass Index in Hashimoto's Thyroiditis

Abstract

Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) is an autoimmune disorder of the thyroid gland characterized by chronic inflammation, which in most cases results in hypothyroidism. The melatonin receptor MTNR1B is sporadically expressed in the thyroid gland. It modulates immune responses, and alterations in the melatonin-MTNR1B receptor signaling pathway may play a role in developing autoimmune diseases. Obesity worsens the severity and progression of some autoimmune diseases and reduces treatment efficacy. This study aimed to investigate the association of MTNR1B gene polymorphisms (rs10830963, rs1387153, and rs4753426) with HT with regards to the body mass index (BMI). Patients with HT were categorized into normal weight BMI ≤ 25 kg/m² and overweight/obese BMI > 25 kg/m² groups. This study included 115 patients with a clinical-, ultrasound-, and laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of HT (64 normal-weight patients and 51 overweight/obese patients) with a mean age of 43 ± 12 years. The results showed that specific MTNR1B polymorphisms are associated with obesity in HT patients. BMI was found to be associated with the rs10830963 polymorphism, and the G allele and GG genotype of the rs10830963 polymorphism were more common in overweight/obese HT patients. Furthermore, the results suggest that genetic factors associated with BMI play a role in developing HT and open new possibilities for personalized treatment approaches.

Keywords: BMI; hypothyroidism; melatonin receptor; thyroid.