The DG10S478 Variant in the TCF7L2 Gene is Not Associated with Microvascular Complications in Type 2 Diabetes

Objective: The DG10S478 variant in the transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene is a tetranucleotide repeat with six alleles. Alleles 0, 8 and 12 were found to account for 98% of chromosomes in population based controls. The composite allele X (non zero) has been associated with type 2 diabetes while allele 0 (no insertion) was described as protective. However, no data exist about the influence of DG10S478 variants on manifestation of diabetes and development of diabetic complications.

Methods: 250 patients with type 2 diabetes were tested for the DG10S478 allele X and its association with diabetic complications, age at diagnosis of diabetes and BMI.

Results: Allele 0 was found in 42.4% of the examined patients, 45.2% of the participants were found to be heterozygous and 12.4% homozygous for the composite allele X. The correlation of allele X with the age at diagnosis of diabetes was not significant. There was also no association of allele X with retinopathy, nephropathy or neuropathy. Only the correlation with BMI was statistically significant.

Conclusions: The DG10S478 variant seems to have no influence on manifestation of diabetes and the development of microvascular complications.