Preproghrelin Leu72Met polymorphism predicts a lower rate of developing renal dysfunction in type 2 diabetic nephropathy.
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.
Lee
Dae-Yeol
DY
Department of Pediatrics, Chonbuk National University Medical School, 634-18, keumam-dong, Jeonju 561-712, Korea.
Kim
Sun-Young
SY
Jo
Dae-Sun
DS
Hwang
Pyoung Han
PH
Kang
Kyung Pyo
KP
Lee
Sik
S
Kim
Won
W
Park
Sung Kwang
SK
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*
D054439:Ghrelin; D008055:Lipids; D009037:Motilin; D004247:DNA