title: Genetics, environment, and diabetes-related end-stage renal disease in the Canary Islands.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Type 1 and type 2 diabetes, complicated with renal disease, have a significantly higher incidence in the Canary Islands than in mainland Spain and other European countries. Present-day Canarian inhabitants consist of a mixed population with North African indigenous and European colonizer ancestors who have rapidly evolved from a rural to an urban life style. The aim of this work was to assess the possible role of genetic and environmental factors on diabetes-related end-stage renal disease incidence in the Canary Islands.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For both types of diabetes there is an ethnic susceptibility increased by diabetes family history. Whereas the Y-chromosome does not play a significant role, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroup differences point to a maternal origin for this ethnic predisposition, confirming susceptible and protective effects for haplogroups J and T, respectively. In addition, urban life style seems to be an additional risk factor for type 1 diabetes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The maternal ethnic predisposition to diabetes complicated with kidney disease detected in the Canary Islands signals mtDNA and X-chromosome markers as the best candidates to uncover the genetic predisposition to this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of La Laguna, La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
authors.forename: Ana M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Benito M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Maceira
authors.forename: Estefanía
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Vicente M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Cabrera
authors.forename: Alfonso J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Larruga
mesh_terms: D041321:Chromosomes, Human, X; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D005819:Genetic Markers