Hemochromatosis gene (HFE) mutations in patients with type 2 diabetes and their control group in an Iranian population.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the frequency of 2 different forms of hemochromatosis HFE gene mutations (C282Y and H63D mutations) in a normal population in comparison with type 2 diabetic patients.


METHODS
This case control study was undertaken in Zanjan Diabetic Care Center, Zanjan, western Tehran, in 2005. Two hundred and two individuals were included in this study: 101 type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients, and 101 age, and gender-matched controls. The patients were examined for mutations in the HFE gene. Nucleotide 845 (C282Y) and 187 (H63D) alleles were amplified by polymerase chain reaction PCR with lymphocyte deoxy-ribonucleic acid. The PCR products were analyzed by restriction enzyme digestion. Chi-square, student's t test, and Fisher's exact tests were used for comparison, and odds' ratio was calculated.


RESULTS
Two hundred and two individuals were studied. The frequency of wild/C282Y alleles was 98/2% in T2DM patients, and 99/1% in controls p=0.6. The frequency of wild/H63D alleles was 68.3/31.7% in diabetics p=0.08, and 73.4/26.3% in control subjects p=0.08. The distribution of genotypes was not statistically different.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on our data, HFE mutations were not found in excess in patients with T2DM, and there was no evidence that a population-based search for an excess of these alleles in type 2 diabetes was indicated.
Department of Endocrinology, Vali-e-asr Hospital, Zanjan Metabolic Diseases Research Center, Zanjan, Iran. faranaksharifi@hotmail.com
Faranak
F
Sharifi
Abdulreza
A
Esmaeilzadeh
Mohammadreza
M
Zali
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D000071020:Hemochromatosis Protein; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
C103673:HFE protein, human; D000071020:Hemochromatosis Protein; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D008565:Membrane Proteins