Uric Acid and Genetic Polymorphisms in the SLC2A9 and Xanthine Oxidase Genes in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Jordan: A Cross‐sectional Study

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is rapidly increasing in prevalence. T2DM is defined by elevated blood glucose levels that occur as a result of cellular resistance to insulin action. Prediabetes, or poor glucose tolerance, is a pre‐diabetes condition. Prediabetes is reversible, and active intervention programs involving dietary and lifestyle changes may help prevent prediabetes from progressing to type 2 diabetes. A few studies found a favorable correlation between increased serum uric acid levels and type 2 diabetes, whereas others found no correlation or even a negative correlation. Jordan never put the aforementioned relationship under investigation. Our research focuses on comparing the serum uric acid levels in Jordan's non‐diabetic, prediabetic, and diabetic population groups (study IRB# 313/2020). Increased uric acid levels could be due to increased urate synthesis or decreased urate excretion. In humans, xanthine oxidase, a cytoplasmic enzyme, catalyzes the final two steps of purine breakdown. The oxidation of hypoxanthine to xanthine and then to uric acid is catalyzed by xanthine oxidase. The SLC2A9 gene encodes a membrane protein that is expressed in proximal renal tubular cells and functions in the excretion of urate. Numerous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the xanthine oxidase and SLC2A9 genes may affect the degree of expression or activity of their protein products. The connection between certain SNPs in the xanthine oxidase or SLC2A9 genes and T2DM has not been investigated in Jordan. Therefore, we aimed to study certain SNPs of the aforementioned genes in our study population and correlate the genetic analysis with the uric acid levels and the disease progression. Our results reveal the correlation between serum uric acid levels and T2DM and demonstrates if serum urate levels and SNPs affecting its synthesis or excretion may serve as early indicators of type 2 diabetes in Jordan.