C/T polymorphism of the rs7903146 nucleotide of the TCF7L2 gene and the risk of developing diabetes mellitus type 2

Abstract

Background. The continuously increasing incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DMt2) is an important problem in current medicine. In addition to well-known environmental factors that may contribute to this disease, genetic factors may also play a role. One of the genes that may be responsible for an increased risk of DMt2 development is the transcription factor TCF7L2 gene. This work was aimed to assess a correlation between the rs7903146 polymorphism in the TCF7L2 gene and age at DMt2 diagnosis, presence of obesity, arterial hypertension, and time elapsed from DMt2 diagnosis to the start of insulin therapy. Methods. An analysis of the studied polymorphism was performed in 282 patients diagnosed with DMt2. Patients were divided into groups depending on the age of the onset of DMt2: group A (n = 82)-DMt2 diagnosis below the age of 40 years, group B (n = 100)-DMt2 diagnosis between the ages of 40 and 60 years, group C (n = 100)-DMt2 diagnosis above the age of 60 years. Results. In group C, there was a significantly lower number of patients with a TT genotype of the studied polymorphism compared to the combined group A + B (P < 0.05). Conclusions. There is a correlation between the rs7903146 polymorphism in the TCF7L2 gene and age at DMt2 diagnosis. No correlation has been demonstrated between the studied polymorphism and the presence of obesity, arterial hypertension, and time elapsed from DMt2 diagnosis to the start of insulin therapy.