Evidence for Association of the E23K Variant ofKCNJ11Gene with Type 2 Diabetes in Tunisian Population: Population-Based Study and Meta-Analysis
Aims. Genetic association studies have reported the E23K variant ofKCNJ11gene to be associated with Type 2 diabetes. In Arab populations, only four studies have investigated the role of this variant. We aimed to replicate and validate the association between the E23K variant and Type 2 diabetes in Tunisian and Arab populations.Methods. We have performed a case-control association study including 250 Tunisian patients with Type 2 diabetes and 267 controls. Allelic association has also been evaluated by 2 meta-analyses including all population-based studies among Tunisians and Arabs (2 and 5 populations, resp.).Results. A significant association between the E23K variant and Type 2 diabetes was found (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.14–2.27, andP=0.007). Furthermore, our meta-analysis has confirmed the significant role of the E23K variant in susceptibility of Type 2 diabetes in Tunisian and Arab populations (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.15–1.46, andP<10-3and OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.13–1.56, andP=0.001, resp.).Conclusion. Both case-control and meta-analyses results revealed the significant association between the E23K variant ofKCNJ11and Type 2 diabetes among Tunisians and Arabs.