title: Preproghrelin Leu72Met polymorphism predicts a lower rate of developing renal dysfunction in type 2 diabetic nephropathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ghrelin is a novel peptide hormone, which exerts somatotropic, orexigenic and adipogenic effects. Recent studies have shown that the preproghrelin Leu72Met polymorphism is associated with serum creatinine (Scr) concentration in type 2 diabetes; 72Met carriers exhibited lower Scr levels as compared with the 72Met non-carriers. We hypothesized that the preproghrelin Leu72Met polymorphism is associated with a lower rate of developing renal dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetic nephropathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The preproghrelin Leu72Met polymorphism was investigated using PCR techniques in 138 patients with diabetic nephropathy divided into two groups, one with normal renal function and the other with renal dysfunction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Determination of the frequency of the preproghrelin Leu72Met polymorphism was the main outcome measure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of the Leu72Met polymorphism in diabetic nephropathy was significantly lower in patients with renal dysfunction (15.9%, P < 0.01) than in patients with normal renal function (42.0%) or in the diabetes control group (40.6%). The Leu72Met polymorphism was also associated with serum total cholesterol levels in diabetic nephropathy patients with renal dysfunction; the 72Met carriers had lower total cholesterol levels than the 72Met non-carriers (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data suggest that 72Met carrier status may be used as a marker predicting a lower chance of developing renal dysfunction in diabetic nephropathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Chonbuk National University Medical School, 634-18, keumam-dong, Jeonju 561-712, Korea.
authors.forename: Dae-Yeol
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sun-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Dae-Sun
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.forename: Pyoung Han
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Kyung Pyo
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Sik
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Won
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung Kwang
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000886:Anthropometry; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D054439:Ghrelin; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009037:Motilin / Q000235:genetics*; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D008055:Lipids; D009037:Motilin; D004247:DNA