Polymorphisms in the promoter region of the basic fibroblast growth factor gene and proliferative diabetic retinopathy in Caucasians with type 2 diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression is implicated in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). The aim of this study was to investigate the association of genetic polymorphisms (-553T/A, -834T/A and -921C/G) in the promoter region of the bFGF gene with PDR in patients with type 2 diabetes. The second aim was to determine whether serum levels of bFGF are affected by genetic factors.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional case-control study 313 unrelated Caucasians (Slovene population) with type 2 diabetes mellitus were enrolled: 206 patients with PDR and the control group of 107 subjects with type 2 diabetes of duration of more than 10 years who had no clinical signs of diabetic retinopathy. We analysed serum bFGF levels in 78 subjects with type 2 diabetes and 25 subjects without diabetes.


RESULTS
The AT genotype of the -553T/A polymorphism was present in 31 (15.0%) PDR patients and in seven (6.5%) controls (P = 0.03, odds ratio = 2.0, 95% confidence interval = 1.0-3.9). The AT genotype of the -834T/A polymorphism was present in 12 (5.8%) PDR patients and in 15 (14.0%) controls (P = 0.01, odds ratio = 0.4, 95% confidence interval = 0.2-0.8). Significantly higher bFGF serum levels were demonstrated in diabetics with the AT genotype of the -553 polymorphism compared with diabetics with the TT genotype, whereas the -834 and -921 polymorphisms failed to affect serum bFGF levels.


CONCLUSIONS
We may conclude that the AT genotype of the 553 T/A polymorphism was associated with PDR in Caucasians with type 2 diabetes, therefore it might be used as a genetic marker of PDR in Caucasians, whereas carriage of the AT genotype of the -834 T/A polymorphism might decrease PDR risk.
Petrovic
Mojca Globocnik
MG
Eye Clinic, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Krkovic
Miha
M
Osredkar
Josko
J
Hawlina
Marko
M
Petrovic
Daniel
D
D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017524:Slovenia / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People
D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D004247:DNA