Association between resistin promoter -420C>G polymorphisms and producing ability with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Elevated resistin levels and the polymorphisms located at gene encoding resistin (<em>RETN</em>) are associated with diabetic pathogenesis. However, the correlation between <em>RETN</em> genotypes and T2DM is controversial due to discrepancies among reports. This study aimed at investigating and clarifying the putative association of <em>RETN</em> and T2DM in Taiwanese population. The resistin levels and <em>RETN</em> -420C&gt;G genotypes in 244 control and 305 T2DM subjects were examined. Meanwhile, the association between genetic polymorphism of <em>RETN</em> -420C&gt;G and resistin levels, as well as between <em>RETN</em> -420C&gt;G and subjects’ clinical characteristics was statistically analyzed. The <em>RETN</em> -420C&gt;G genotypes (p = 0.01) and G allele (p = 0.002) were significantly associated with T2DM. In addition, concanavalin A-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from T2DM subjects had higher resistin-secreting ability (p = 0.044). Nevertheless, no significant association between the subjects’ biochemical data and <em>RETN</em> -420 SNPs was found. Our results indicate that <em>RETN</em> -420C&gt;G SNPs and G allele are significantly associated with T2DM. Investigation of <em>RETN</em> polymorphisms in T2DM patients from various ethnic populations are crucial and will contribute to the understanding of this gene in the diabetic etiology. The present results may contribute to gain knowledge on the complex genetic heterogeneity of type 2 diabetes.