Abstract
BackgroundAngiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) stimulates angiogenesis that leads to the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR). Alu repetitive elements in ACE gene increase the expression of this enzyme. We investigated the frequency of Alu repetitive elements, insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism, in angiotensin-converting enzyme among diabetic retinopathy patients and whether this polymorphism is associated with the severity of retinopathy in Jordanians with type 2 diabetes.MethodsA total of 277 subjects participated in this case/ control study (100 diabetic patients without DR, 82 diabetic patients with DR, and 95 healthy control). Blood samples were withdrawn, followed by DNA extraction. Alu repetitive elements were examined by polymerase chain reaction followed by gel electrophoresis.ResultsThe genotype and allele frequencies among diabetic patients, were close to healthy controls (genotypes, II 44.4 vs. 44.7%, ID 44.4 vs. 42.6%, DD 12.2 vs. 12.8%, P = 0.402 and 0.677 respectively, alleles, I 65.6 vs. 66%, D 34.4 vs. 34%, P=0.863). Complicated diabetics with retinopathy showed similar genotype and allele frequency to those without complications. The severity of diabetic retinopathy in affected individuals was not correlated with I/D polymorphism (P=0.862).ConclusionsWe conclude that the presence of Alu repetitive elements did not increase the development or progression risk to retinopathy in Jordanian type 2 diabetic patients. No association between I or D alleles with the severity of DR was detected.
Highlights
Retinopathy as a diabetic complicationDiabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microangiopathic complication in patients affected by diabetes mellitus [1,2,3,4]
We conclude that the presence of Alu repetitive elements did not increase the development or progression risk to retinopathy in Jordanian type 2 diabetic patients
The primary cause of vision loss in diabetic patients is mainly a result of intraocular angiogenesis, which leads to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), and leakage of retinal vessels, which leads to diabetic macular edema (DME) [5]
Summary
Retinopathy as a diabetic complicationDiabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microangiopathic complication in patients affected by diabetes mellitus [1,2,3,4]. As a common finding in diabetic patients and an essential global cause of blindness in working-age individuals, several risk factors have been closely correlated with the development and progression of DR complication, including blood glucose levels, the type of diabetes, duration of disease, blood pressure, and possibly lipid profile [1,2,3,4]. The primary cause of vision loss in diabetic patients is mainly a result of intraocular angiogenesis, which leads to proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), and leakage of retinal vessels, which leads to diabetic macular edema (DME) [5]. Many studies have investigated and established a correlational relationship between chronic hyperglycemia and the development of DR; the mechanism by which hyperglycemia results in damaging retinal microvasculature is still unclear
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