HLA DRB1, DQB1 and insulin promoter VNTR polymorphisms: interactions and the association with adult‐onset diabetes mellitus in Czech patients

Abstract

Both the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) DRB1 and the HLA DQB1 gene loci play a role in the development and progression of autoimmune diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Similarly, the insulin promoter variable number tandem repeats (INS-VNTR) polymorphism is also involved in the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus (DM). We studied the association between each of these polymorphisms and DM diagnosed in patients older than age 35 years. Furthermore, we analysed possible interactions between HLA DRB1/DQB1 and INS-VNTR polymorphisms. Based on C-peptide and GADA levels we were able to distinguish three types of diabetes: T1DM, latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and T2DM. INS-VNTR was genotyped indirectly by typing INS-23HphI A/T polymorphism. The genotype and allele frequencies of INS-23HphI did not differ between each of the diabetic groups and group of healthy subjects. We did, however, observe an association between the INS-23HphI alleles, genotypes and C-peptide secretion in all diabetic patients: A allele frequency was 86.2% in the C-peptide-negative group vs. 65.4% in the C-peptide-positive group (P(corr.) < 0.005); AA genotype was found to be 72.4% in the C-peptide-negative group vs. 42.6% in the C-peptide-positive groups (P(corr.) < 0.01). The HLA genotyping revealed a significantly higher frequency of HLA DRB1*03 allele in both T1DM and LADA groups when compared to healthy subjects: T1DM (25.7%) vs. control group (10.15%), odds ratio (OR) = 3.06, P < 0.05; LADA (27.6%) vs. control (10.15%), OR = 3.37, P < 0.01. The simultaneous presence of both HLA DRB1*04 and INS-23HphI AA genotype was detected in 37.5% of the T1DM group compared to only 9.2% of the healthy individuals group (OR = 5.9, P(corr.) < 0.007). We summarize that in the Central Bohemian population of the Czech Republic, the INS-23HphI A allele appears to be associated with a decrease in pancreatic beta cell secretory activity. HLA genotyping points to at least a partial difference in mechanism, which leads to T1DM and LADA development as well as a more diverse genetic predisposition in juvenile- and adult-onset diabetes. The simultaneous effect of HLA and INS-VNTR alleles/genotypes predispose individuals to an increased risk of diabetes development.

Insulin gene VNTR polymorphisms −2221MspI and −23HphI are associated with type 1 diabetes and latent autoimmune diabetes in adults: a meta-analysis

“…In other words, individuals with the T allele of -23HphI or the T allele of -2221MspI may be at reduced risk of T1D. However, although many candidate genes associated with T1D have been reported, the data are not completely consistent [13,16,[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35]. Also, although a few studies have focused on the association between the INS VNTR and the risk of LADA, the sample sizes were small and the results were variable [15,19,33,36,37].…”

Wpływ występowania allelu klasy III VNTR genu INS na parametry auksologiczne, stężenie glukozy, insuliny, lipidów i adipocytokin u przeddojrzewaniowych dzieci urodzonych z niską masą ciała

“…In turn, high levels of insulin at the 120 th min- [19] found that class I homozygosity is a significant risk factor of DM1 and acts independently from HLA haplotype in the actual risk of diabetes in children. Cejkova et al [41] confirmed that the simultaneous effect of HLA and INS VNTR genotypes predispose to an increased risk of T1DM, LADA, or T2DM development. Similar conclusions regarding INS VNTR were presented by Zhang et al [42].…”

The Relationship between insulin variable number of tandem repeats (INS-VNTR) -23 A/T and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein-4 (CTLA-4) +49 A/G polymorphisms with islet autoantibodies in persons with diabetes

“…Together, these two genes confer an inheritable disease risk no larger than 15% (19,20) (25). Also, Cejkova P et al showed that the genotype and allele frequencies of -23 HphI did not differ between T1DM, LADA and T2DM groups and group of healthy subjects in population of the Czech Republic (26). In addition to INS-VNTR, variation in several other genes contributes to diabetes pathogenesis.…”