title: GAS6 intron 8 c.834 + 7G > A gene polymorphism in diabetic nephropathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND - AIM: In animal experiments, growth arrest-specific 6 (Gas6) protein plays a key role in the development of mesangial cell and glomerular hypertrophy in the early phase of diabetic nephropathy, and diabetic nephropathy is prevented by warfarin-induced inhibition of GAS6 protein. It was shown that GAS6 intron 8 c.834 + 7G > A polymorphism is protective against type 2 diabetes mellitus, and AA genotype is associated with higher blood levels of GAS6 protein. Our aim is to investigate whether this polymorphism is a risk factor for diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-seven patients with diabetic nephropathy were compared with 66 non-diabetic controls in terms of GAS6 intron 8 c.834 + 7G > A polymorphism. Patients with history of stroke, ischemic heart disease were excluded. Each patient was examined by the ophthalmologist to determine diabetic retinopathy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Frequency of GG, GA and AA genotypes are similar in diabetic nephropathy and control groups according to GAS6 intron 8 c.834 + 7G > A polymorphism (p =  .837). Rate of diabetic retinopathy was 54.02%. In the subgroup analysis, GA genotype was significantly more frequent than GG genotype in patients with diabetic retinopathy when compared to without diabetic retinopathy (p =  .010).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study, GAS6 intron 8 c.834 + 7G > A polymorphism was not associated with diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, heterozygous state of this polymorphism may be a risk factor for diabetic retinopathy in patients with diabetic nephropathy.
authors: a Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine , Bezmialem Vakif University , Istanbul , Turkey .
authors: Reha
authors: R
authors: Erkoc
authors: Mehmet Ali
authors: MA
authors: Cikrikcioglu
authors: Emre
authors: E
authors: Aintab
authors: Aybala Erek
authors: AE
authors: Toprak
authors: Ulkan
authors: U
authors: Kilic
authors: Ozlem
authors: O
authors: Gok
authors: Ayse Irem Yasin
authors: AI
authors: Cetin
authors: Mehmet
authors: M
authors: Zorlu
authors: Muharrem
authors: M
authors: Kiskac
authors: Mustafa
authors: M
authors: Cakirca
authors: Sena Nur
authors: SN
authors: Erkal
authors: Hayati Can
authors: HC
authors: Isen
authors: Cumali
authors: C
authors: Karatoprak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D007438:Introns; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult; D000099255:Growth Arrest-Specific Protein 6
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D000099255:Growth Arrest-Specific Protein 6
keywords: Albuminuria; GAS6 gene; diabetes mellitus; diabetic nephropathy; polymorphism