ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the association between the two single nucleotide polymorphisms located in catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)in Han population in Guangdong province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two tagSNPs (rs4646312 and rs4680) were picked out from COMT gene. Using the SNPscan(TM) Kit, SNP genotyping was then performed, in two cohorts, including 595 cases and 725 controls. Finally, Chi-square test, logistic regression model and other methods were employed for statistical analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The frequencies of TT, CT and CC of rs4646312 appeared to be 304(51.1%), 234(39.3%)and 57 (8.6%) in cases, 323 (44.6%), 319 (44.0%) and 83(11.4%)in controls, respectively. The frequencies of GG,GA and AA of rs4680 were 311(52.4%), 236 (39.8%) and 46(7.8%)in cases, 417(57.7%), 265 (36.6%) and 41 (5.7%) in controls, respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>showed that SNP rs4646312 was significantly associated with T2DM both in allelic association analysis (P = 0.020,OR = 1.26, 95%CI:1.04-1.53)and in recessive model (P = 0.022, OR = 1.35, 95% CI:1.05-1.74)after adjustment for sex,BMI and TG. The association between rs4680 and T2DM was not significant, but BMI was remarkably different among the three genotypes of rs4680 after controlling for other factors.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>SNP rs4646312 of COMT gene was associated with the increased risk of T2DM in Han population in Guangdong province. However, rs4680 was not significantly associated with T2DM.</p>