Polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene is associated with diabetic retinopathy in a cohort of West Africans.
OBJECTIVE
In addition to chronic hyperglycemia, there is increasing evidence that genetic factors may be important in the development of diabetes retinopathy (DR). Specifically, polymorphisms of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (eNOS) have been reported to be associated with multiple health conditions including DR, hypertension, nephropathy, and cardiovascular diseases in several ethnic groups. However, there is a paucity of similar data in African Americans and other African populations. To address this issue, we investigated the potential association between polymorphisms of the eNOS gene and diabetes-related phenotypes in 384 persons with type 2 diabetes and 191 controls from two West African countries (Ghana and Nigeria).


METHODS
We genotyped the deletion/insertion (4a/b) and the G894T polymorphisms of eNOS gene in a total of 575 persons.


RESULTS
The b/b genotype of the polymorphism was associated with a 2.4 fold increased risk of DR (95% CI 1.39-4.09). In contrast, we did not observe any association between the genotypes or alleles of G894T polymorphism with DR, hypertension, or nephropathy.


CONCLUSIONS
We observed a significant association between the 4a/b polymorphism of the eNOS and DR in our West African cohort.
Chen
Yuanxiu
Y
National Human Genome Center at Howard University, College of Medicine, Washington DC 20059, USA. ychen@genomecenter.howard.edu
Huang
Hanxia
H
Zhou
Jie
J
Doumatey
Ayo
A
Lashley
Kerrie
K
Chen
Guanjie
G
Agyenim-Boateng
Kofi
K
Eghan
Benjamin A
BA
Acheampong
Joseph
J
Fasanmade
Olufemi
O
Johnson
Thomas
T
Akinsola
Folasade B
FB
Okafor
Godfrey
G
Oli
Johnnie
J
Ezepue
Felix
F
Amoah
Albert
A
Akafo
Stephen
S
Adeyemo
Adebowale
A
Rotimi
Charles N
CN
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D005869:Ghana; D005998:Glycine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D009549:Nigeria; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D013912:Threonine; D001741:Black or African American
D013912:Threonine; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D005998:Glycine