Martin Javorský, Martina Dobríková, Viera Habalová, Miriam Kozárová, Lucia Klimčáková, Jana Halušková, Jozef Židzik, Daniela Gašperíková, Iwar Klimeš, Ján Šalagovič, Ivan Tkáč
Background/Aim: Polymorphism of the transcription factor gene TCF7L2 rs7903146 C/T has shown so far the strongest and best replicated association with type 2 diabetes (DM2), T-allele carrying 40 % increased risk. Although widely replicated, rs7903146 has shown marked variation in both frequency of the minor T-allele as well as the strength of association with DM2 among populations. Aim of this study was to replicate the association between TCF7L2 rs7903146 C/T and DM2 in the Slovakian population and to estimate frequency of the risk allele T. Methods: 538 DM2 patients and 361 subjects with normal glucose tolerance were genotyped for TCF7L2 rs7903146 C/T by assymetric PCR with unlabeled dyes and melting curve analysis. Anthropometric and biochemical examinations were performed by routine methods. Results: Minor, risk allele frequency (T) was higher among DM2 patients compared with controls (30 % vs. 28 %), which resulted in significant 30 % increased risk per T allele in the log-additive genetic model (OR 1,29; 95 % CI 1,00 - 1,66; p = 0,048). Genotype T/T was more prevalent among DM2 (11 %) than in controls (6 %) (59/538 vs. 21/361; p = 0,015). Adjusted for age, sex and BMI, genotype T/T was associated with increased risk of DM2 (OR 2,57; 95 %CI 1,40 - 4,73; p = 0,002) compared with C-allele carriers (C/T + C/C). Conclusion: We replicated association of TCF7L2 rs7903146 C/T with increased risk of type 2 diabetes in the Slovakian population. Both minor (risk) allele frequency (T) and the strength of association with DM2 is comparable with the other Caucasian populations.
Keywords: genetic association study, single nucleotide polymorphism, TCF7L2, type 2 diabetes, Slovakian population