Abstract

Background: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene are well known risk variants for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The association between TCF7L2 SNPs and T2DM has been investigated in several studies, but the results are controversial. In this study, we investigated whether the rs7903146, rs12255372, and rs290487 polymorphisms of TCF7L2 are associated with T2DM per se or metabolic traits related to this disease in a Kurdish ethnic group of Iran. Methods: In all, 173 patients with T2DM and 173 normoglycemic subjects were included in this study. All subjects were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Genotypic and allelic frequencies were then analyzed in each group. Serum lipids, fasting glucose, fasting serum insulin, HOMA-IR, and HbA1c levels were determined by conventional methods. Results: T-allele and genotype frequencies of rs7903146, rs12255372, and rs290487 were significantly different between T2DM and control subjects. The CT genotype (OR = 1.98, p = 0.008), TT genotype (OR = 3.54, p = 0.024), and the dominant model (OR = 2.16, p = 0.002) of rs7903146 were associated with T2DM. The GT genotype (OR = 2.23, p = 0.005), TT genotype (OR = 4.25, p = 0.046), and the dominant model (OR = 2.2, p = 0.001) of rs12255372 gave a higher risk for T2DM. The carriers of CT genotype of rs290487 showed a significantly increased risk for T2DM (OR = 2.24, p = 0.003). Similarly, the dominant model of this SNP was found to be significantly associated with T2DM (OR = 2.25, p = 0.002). The control subjects carrying the T-allele of rs7903146 had higher levels of total cholesterol (CC; 4.52 +/- 1.03 vs. CT + TT; 5.00 +/- 1.2 mmol/L, p = 0.009) than those with CC genotype. Normoglycemic subjects carrying GT + TT genotypes of rs12255372 had a significantly higher WHR (GG; 0.90 +/- 0.059 vs. GT + TT; 0.93 +/- 0.07, p = 0.038) as compared with those with the GG genotype. Conclusions: The T-allele of rs12255372, rs7903146, and rs290487 polymorphisms of TCF7L2 confer susceptibility to T2DM in the Kurdish population of Iran.