http://repub.eur.nl/res/aut/52624/ List of Publications en http://repub.eur.nl/static-eur/img/logo.png http://repub.eur.nl http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/34123/ 2011-12-01T00:00:00Z Context/objective: The growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1) axis is the key regulator of somatic growth in humans and its genes are plausible candidates to study the genetics of height variation. Here, we studied polymorphic variation in the GH/IGF-1 axis in the extremely tall Dutch. Methods: Case-control study of 166 tall cases with height >. 2 SDS and 206 controls with normally distributed height <. 2 SDS. Excluded were subjects with endocrine disorders or growth syndromes. We analyzed genomic DNA at 7 common polymorphisms in the GH-1, GH receptor (GHR), IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 genes. Results: The association of the GH-1 1663 SNP with tall stature approached statistical significance, with the T-allele more present in the tall (allele frequency (AF): 0.44 vs. 0.36; p = 0.084). Moreover, haplotype frequencies at this locus were significantly different between cases and controls, with the GGT haplotype most commonly seen in cases (p = 0.01). Allele frequencies of GHR polymorphisms were not different. For the IGF-1 CA-repeat we observed a higher frequency of homozygous 192-bp carriers among tall males compared to control males (AF: 0.62 vs. 0.55; p = 0.02). The IGFBP-3 -202 C-allele occurred more frequently in cases than in controls (AF: 0.58 vs. 0.50; p = 0.002). Within cases, those carrying one or two copies of the -202 C-allele were significantly taller than AA genotype carriers (AC, p = 0.028 and CC, p = 0.009). Serum IGFBP-3 levels were highest in AA genotype carriers, the -202 SNP explained 5.8% of the variation. Conclusion: Polymorphic variation in the GH-1, IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 genes is associated with extremely tall stature. In particular, the IGFBP-3 -202 SNP is associated not only with being very tall but also with height variation within the tall. http://repub.eur.nl/res/pub/34542/ 2011-11-01T00:00:00Z Background/Aims: Genetic variation in several candidate genes has been associated with short stature. Recently, a high-mobility group A2 (HMGA2) gene SNP has been robustly associated with height in the general population. Only few have attempted to study these genes in extremely tall stature. We therefore studied common genetic variation in candidate genes for height in extremely tall Dutch. Methods: We included 116 constitutionally tall cases with height >2 SD and 103 controls with normally distributed height <2 SD. We genotyped 10 common polymorphisms previously associated with height variation. Results: The HMGA2 gene SNP was significantly associated with tall stature. Using a logistic regression model, we calculated that carrying the HMGA2 (rs1042725) C allele significantly increased the odds of being tall (OR = 1.53, 95% CI 1.02-2.28; p = 0.03). In addition, controls with one or two copies of the C allele were significantly taller than controls carrying the TT genotype [TC: mean (SD) +0.61 (0.21) SDS; p = 0.004, and CC: +0.77 (0.25) SDS; p = 0.003]. Conclusion: Our study shows that a common polymorphism in the HMGA2 gene is not only associated with height variation in the general population but also plays an important role in one of the extremes of the height distribution.