Implication of KCNJ11 and TCF7L2 gene variants for the predisposition of type 2 diabetes mellitus in West Bengal, India

Abstract

Background: Population-based Genome-wide association studies showed variants in KCNJ11 and TCF7L2 genes are associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our study was aimed to identify the association of common variants of these genes with T2DM and related traits in West Bengal, India. Methods: Six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of two genes (KCNJ11- rs5219, rs5215, rs5213, and TCF7L2-rs7903146, rs12255372, rs10885409) were genotyped in 200 T2DM patients and 200 ethnically matched normal individuals. Results: Results showed the association of four SNPs (rs5219, rs5213, rs7903146, and rs12255372) with T2DMwhere odd ratios (OR) were 1.46, 1.44, 1.48, and 1.42 respectively. Iindividuals carrying 4 risk alleles (T of rs7903146, T of rs12255372, A of rs5219, and G of rs5213) have 3 fold risk (p = 0.007, OR = 2.81; 95%CI: 1.32–5.98) of T2DM. We observed a significant association between individuals carrying 4 risk alleles and glycemic risk factors (fasting blood glucose, p-0.008 & postprandial blood glucose, p-0.007) as well as a cardiovascular risk factor (VLDL levels, p-0.036). Conclusions: Our study identified four common variants of KCNJ11 and TCF7L2 genes which areassociated with T2DM in the population of West Bengal, India.

Keywords

• Type 2 diabetes mellitu
• KCNJ11
• TCF7L2