title: Contribution of the TCF7L2 rs7903146 (C/T) gene polymorphism to the susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus in Cameroon.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Data on the genetic variants for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in sub-Saharan African populations are very scarce. This study aimed to investigate the association of transcription factor 7-like (TCF7L2) with T2DM in a Cameroonian population and explore possible genotype-phenotype correlation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a case-control study involving 37 T2DM patients and 37 non-diabetic volunteers of Cameroonian ethnicity aged 40 years old and above. We collected clinical and biological data to determine phenotypic traits. TCF7L2 was analyzed by genotyping for rs7903146 (C/T) using PCR-RFLP. Biochemical analyses were performed using a spectrophotometer with Chronolab kits. Statistical analyses were carried out using IBM SPSS, PS and Quanto.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TCF7L2 was associated with T2DM in this Cameroonian population (p = 0.013 for alleles, and p = 0.013 for genotypes). The risk allele was C (9.5% patients vs. 0% healthy controls, OR = 16.56) and the protective allele was T (90.5% patients vs. 100.0% healthy controls, OR = 0.06). The risk genotype was C/T (18.9% patients vs. 0% healthy controls, OR = 18.44), while the protective genotype was T/T (81.1% patients vs. 100.0% healthy controls, OR = 0.054). The statistical power was 99.99%. TCF7L2 was not preferentially associated with a specific disease phenotype.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TCF7L2 is associated with T2DM in this Cameroonian population. The association is not dependent on a specific T2DM phenotype. Clinical genetic testing for TCF7L2 can help to predict the occurrence of T2DM in Cameroon.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon ; Laboratory for Molecular Medicine and Metabolism, Biotechnology Center, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Magellan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guewo-Fokeng
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Molecular Medicine and Metabolism, Biotechnology Center, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon ; Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon ; National Obesity Center, Yaoundé Central Hospital, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sobngwi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon ; Laboratory for Molecular Medicine and Metabolism, Biotechnology Center, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Atogho-Tiedeu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon ; Laboratory for Molecular Medicine and Metabolism, Biotechnology Center, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Olivier Sontsa
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Donfack
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Groote Schuur Hospital and University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa ; Medical Diagnostic Center, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Jean Jacques N
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Noubiap
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon ; Laboratory for Molecular Medicine and Metabolism, Biotechnology Center, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Elvis Ndonwi
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Ngwa
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon ; Laboratory for Molecular Medicine and Metabolism, Biotechnology Center, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Edith Pascale
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Mato-Mofo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon ; Laboratory for Molecular Medicine and Metabolism, Biotechnology Center, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Priscille Pokam
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Fosso
authors.affiliation: National Obesity Center, Yaoundé Central Hospital, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Djahmeni
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon ; Laboratory for Molecular Medicine and Metabolism, Biotechnology Center, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Rosine
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Djokam-Dadjeu
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon ; Laboratory for Molecular Medicine and Metabolism, Biotechnology Center, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Marie-Solange
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Evehe
authors.affiliation: The Canadian Pharmacogenomics Network for Drug Safety (CPNDS), Center for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: Folefac
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aminkeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon ; Laboratory for Public Health Research Biotechnologies, Biotechnology Center, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Wilfred F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Mbacham
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Molecular Medicine and Metabolism, Biotechnology Center, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon ; Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon ; National Obesity Center, Yaoundé Central Hospital, University of Yaoundé 1, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors.forename: Jean Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Mbanya
keywords: Cameroon; Genetic association; Sub-Saharan Africa; Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2); Type 2 diabetes