ABSTRACT
AIM: Peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor-gamma2 (PPAR-gamma2) is a nuclear receptor that plays an important role in lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity. The purpose of this study is to investigate the association of Pro12Ala polymorphism at the PPAR-gamma2 gene in Brazilian patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2Dm) and controls (CG). METHODS: Genomic DNA was obtained from 207 unrelated white people presenting with T2Dm and from 170 controls. Anthropometric data included body mass index and waist to hip ratio. Biochemical parameters included fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, glycated haemoglobin and insulin. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were also measured. Screening for mutations in the entire coding region of the PPAR-gamma gene was performed by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), single-strand conformational polymorphism and sequencing. Pro12Ala polymorphism was analysed by using PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment-length polymorphism). RESULTS: One base substitution was identified - a C to G substitution in exon B of the PPAR-gamma2 gene. The frequency of the Ala12 allele in T2Dm (0.09) was similar to that found in CG (0.06, p = 0.185). In the T2Dm group, Ala12 allele was associated with lower fasting plasma insulin levels (p = 0.036) and higher insulin sensitivity (p = 0.049) by means of homeostasis model assessment. Among obese people, there was no association between any of the T2Dm or obesity-related traits and the Pro12Ala polymorphism. CONCLUSIONS: The results of our study suggest that people with the Ala12 allele of the PPAR-gamma2 gene could be more sensitive to insulin than those carriers of the Pro12 allele among Brazilian Caucasians.
Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/genetics , Insulin Resistance/genetics , PPAR gamma/genetics , Polymorphism, Genetic , Adult , Aged , Anthropometry , Blood Glucose/metabolism , DNA Mutational Analysis/methods , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood , Female , Humans , Insulin/blood , Lipids/blood , Male , Middle Aged , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Polymorphism, Single-Stranded ConformationalABSTRACT
AIM: The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of the C161T polymorphism of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) gene in Brazilian subjects with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and controls residing in Sao Paulo City, Brazil. METHODS: Genomic DNA was obtained from 207 patients with T2DM and 170 unrelated normoglycemic individuals (CG). Anthropometric data included: body mass index, waist, hip, waist-to-hip ratio; biochemical parameters: fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, glycated hemoglobin and insulin. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was also measured. Screening for mutations in the entire coding region of the PPARgamma gene was carried out by PCR, single strand conformational polymorphism analysis (SSCP) and sequencing. C161T polymorphism was analyzed by PCR-RFLP. RESULTS: The C161T polymorphism was the only variant found in exon 6 of the PPARgamma gene. The frequency of the 161T allele in T2DM (0.10) was similar to that found in CG (0.07, p=0.210). Serum triglycerides (p=0.040), VLDL-cholesterol (p=0.040) and Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP; p=0.003) were significantly lower in 161T allele carriers than non-carriers in women of the T2DM group. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that the C161T polymorphism in the PPARgamma gene is not associated with variables related to T2DM or insulin resistance in the Brazilian population. However, a reduction of serum triglycerides and AIP was observed in women with 161T allele of the C161T polymorphism of the PPARgamma gene.