Background: Adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ) variability may affect the risk for type 2 diabetes
mellitus (T2DM) but it remains unclear whether it is involved in microvascular complications.
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Objective: To explore the impact of ADIPOQ variability on markers of inflammation and angiogenesis
in T2DM.
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Methods: Overall, 220 consecutive T2DM patients from our outpatient diabetic clinic were genotyped
for G276T (rs1501299) and T45G (rs2241766) single nucleotide polymorphisms of ADIPOQ gene.
Serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular endothelial
growth factor (VEGF) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and high sensitivity Creactive
protein (hsCRP) by immunonephelometry.
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Results: Homozygosity for the G allele on rs2241766 was associated with significantly lower serum
VEGF and ICAM-1 levels compared with other genotype groups, but had no effect on IL-6. Genetic
variability on rs1501299 was not associated with either VEGF or ICAM-1 levels, but T homozygotes
for rs1501299 had significantly lower IL-6 concentrations compared with G carriers. Furthermore, the
presence of the G allele on rs2241766 was associated with significantly lower HbA1c, whereas no associations
were observed for both body mass index and hsCRP with either rs2241766 or rs1501299.
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Conclusion: Genetic variability on adiponectin gene was associated with serum levels of inflammatory
and angiogenetic markers. Further research is required to elucidate the role of adiponectin in the development
and/or progression of microvascular disease in T2DM patients.
Studies of Genetic Variability of the Glucose Transporter 2 Promoter in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus