title: An insertion/deletion polymorphism in the alpha2B adrenoceptor gene is associated with age at onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
abstract: Alpha2B adrenoceptor (alpha2B-AR) mediates a variety of functions, including insulin secretion. An insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the alpha2B-AR gene located on chromosome 2 has recently been described. The aim of the present study was to examine if there is a difference in the D allele frequency of alpha2B-AR gene between type 2 diabetic patients and controls, as well as to ascertain whether the D allele confers an increased risk for earlier onset of diabetes. This study included 199 type 2 diabetic patients and 204 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. Genotyping of I/D polymorphism was performed by PCR. No significant difference in the D allele frequency was observed between the two groups (22.1% vs. 19.1%, p = 0.409). Among type 2 diabetic patients, however, presence of the D allele was associated with significantly younger age at onset of diabetes (51.4+/-8.6 vs. 59.2+/-9.7 years, p < 0.001). Multiple stepwise linear regression identified alpha2B I/D genotype as an independent predictor of age at onset of DMT2, explaining 14.3% of its variance. This result indicates that the D allele may be implicated in impaired glucose metabolism leading to earlier manifestation of diabetes in predisposed subjects.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Medical School of Alexandroupolis, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece. dapap@otenet.gr
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Papazoglou
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Papanas
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Papatheodorou
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kotsiou
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Christakidis
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maltezos
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D015995:Prevalence; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D012016:Reference Values; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017384:Sequence Deletion
chemical_list: C547771:ADRA2B protein, human; D004251:DNA Transposable Elements; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2