Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms: An Approach to Personalized Medicine for African Americans with and without Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Over 27 million people in the U.S. have type 2 diabetes mellitus, with a disproportionate number being African American. There is abundant evidence of environmental and genetic influence, with several single nucleotide polymorphisms reaching genome-wide significance. The work was a pilot study to begin to determine whether type 2 diabetes mellitus can be improved in society through personalized medicine, by approaching individual patients from the standpoint of their unique at-risk or protective genes in addition to lifestyle and family history. Twenty-seven patients volunteered to answer questions on family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus and had their body mass index, glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and insulin levels determined. They also had DNA extracted with single nucleotide polymorphisms determined by Affymetrix precision medicine research array. Fourteen single nucleotide polymorphisms relating to T2DM were found in the microarray used in this study. Number of at-risk single nucleotide polymorphisms varied for participants and 3 had the protective single nucleotide polymorphisms. While all participants had at-risk single nucleotide polymorphisms, some individuals with a body mass index in the obese range or with family history of the disease were found to have a greater number of single nucleotide polymorphisms that place them at risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study shows how combined knowledge of patient single nucleotide polymorphisms, family history, and lab parameters may provide information for developing a personalized medicine plan.