Abstract

Background and purpose: The E23K polymorphism of ATP-sensitive potassium channel kcnj11 gene leads to the conversion of glutamate to lysine amino acids and this substitution is associated with increased risk of several diseases such as diabetes. We aimed to examine the association between kcnj11 E23K variation and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a Kurdish population. Material and methods: The study population included 173 patients with T2DM and 173 normoglycemic subjects. 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 also determined. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results: Significant differences were seen between the two groups for allelic frequency of the T allele (P=0.006). Also, the genotype frequencies showed a significant difference in CT genotype between the case and control individuals (OR=2.77, 95 CI: 1.29-5.97, P=0.009). Similarly, in the dominant model, the kcnj11 E23K was found to be significantly associated with T2DM (OR=2.72, 95 CI: 1.30- 5.68, P=0.008). However, we did not observe any significant association in the recessive model (P>0.05). Conclusion: This study was performed for the first time in the Kurdish ethnic group in Iran. The E23K polymorphism of the kcnj11 was found to be significantly associated with T2DM in the studied population. © 2015 Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved.