Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Polymorphisms in angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene and angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AGTR1) gene have been assessed in previously multiple studies for association with diabetic nephropathy (DN), but results are still controversial.

Aim: The aim of our study was to find out the role of ACE (I/D) and AGTR1 (A1166C) in genetic susceptibility of diabetic nephropathy in Belarusian population.

Methods: The present case-control study investigated the association of the I/D polymorphism in the ACE gene and A1166C polymorphism in the AGTR1 gene with DN. The study included 101 patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes (67 subjects with DN) and 100 normal controls. DNA was isolated from peripheral blood leucocytes, and genotyped using allele specific PCR (ACE ID) or PCR (AGTR1) methods.

Results: Genotype frequencies of the ACE (I/D) and AGTR1 (A1166C) polymorphisms were in accordance with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. In subjects with DN, the frequencies of the DD, ID and II genotypes (ACE) were 0.409; 0.227 and 0.364 respectively. The frequencies of the AA, AC and CC genotypes (AGTR1) were 0.554; 0.355 and 0.091 respectively. We found no significant association of the ACE I/D polymorphism with DN in genotype, allele, dominant, and recessive models. Homozygosity for the A allele, of the AGTR1 (A1166C) polymorphism, was associated with increased risk of DN (OR=3.06; 99%CI=1.02–9.08), independently of the other associated variables: age, duration of diabetes, sex and HbA1c.

Conclusion: Our preliminary data did not reveal significant association of the ACE I/D polymorphism with diabetic nephropathy. The risk of having diabetic nephropathywas increased in patients homozygous for the A1166 allele AGTR1 gene. However, more investigations are required to further this association.