This study suggests that mutations in the HNF1A gene comprise about 9% of clinically diagnosed MODY subjects in southern India and a novel Arg263His mutation cosegregates with MODY in one family.

OBJECTIVE—Among Europeans, mutations in the hepatocyte nuclear factor-1α (HNF1α) gene are associated with the most common form of maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY)3. In Asian Indians, type 2 diabetes occurs earlier and often overlaps with MODY, but the genetics of the latter are unknown. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of Ala98Val polymorphism of the HNF1α gene in different types of diabetes in Asian Indians. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Genotyping of Ala98Val was done by the PCR–restriction fragment–length polymorphism method in the following groups: 1) MODY, defined as non–insulin-dependent diabetes (age at onset <25 years) and vertical transmission of diabetes through at least three generations (n = 122); 2) very-early-onset type 2 diabetes (age at onset <25 years) without family history (n = 23); 3) early-onset type 2 diabetes (age at onset between 26 and 40 years, n = 171); 4) late-onset type 2 diabetes (age at onset >40 years, n = 133); 5) type 1 diabetes (n = 150); and 6) normal glucose tolerance (n = 130). The frequency of the Val genotypes was compared in the diabetic and control groups. RESULTS—The frequency of the Val allele was significantly higher in MODY patients (P = 0.0013) compared with control groups. Furthermore, in the total group of patients with type 2–like diabetes (groups 1–4), the Val allele was associated with an earlier diagnosis of diabetes (P = 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS—Among Asian Indians, the Ala98Val polymorphism of HNF1α gene is associated with MODY and with earlier age at onset of type 2 diabetes.

Variants in hepatocyte nuclear factor 4A (HNF4A) cause maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY 1). The objective of the study was to screen the coding and the promoter regions of HNF4A mutations in 87 unrelated South Indian subjects with clinically diagnosed MODY with severe forms of diabetes referred to a tertiary diabetes centre. In addition, we looked at the association of common polymorphisms in HNF4 A gene in subjects with MODY (n = 199), early onset type 2 diabetes (T2DM) (n = 505), late onset T2DM (n = 287) and normal glucose tolerance (NGT) (n = 247). We identified three novel mutations in the P2 promoter region of HNF4A, namely -1009 G/C, -129 T/C and -79 C/T. Co-segregation with diabetes was noted with the -1009 G/C and -129 T/C in one MODY family. We also studied eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of HNF4A gene. The frequency of the minor allele of the rs2144908 was significantly higher in subjects with MODY (p < 0.01) and that of rs736823 was significantly higher in early onset T2DM (p = 0.001). Minor allele frequency of rs1884614 and rs2071197 was significantly lower in early onset T2DM when compared to NGT subjects (p < 0.01). Minor allele frequency of Val255Met was significantly lower in MODY, early onset T2DM and late onset T2DM compared to NGT subjects (p < 0.01). This is the first report of MODY 1 mutations from India and shows that 3.4% of clinically diagnosed MODY subjects have MODY 1. In addition, we report SNPs of HNF4A that are both susceptible to, and protective against, MODY and early onset T2DM.