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MTHFR gene variant is not associated with diabetic nephropathy in Japanese

M Odawara1, K Yamashita, N Yamada

  • 1Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.

Nucleic Acids Symposium Series
|April 26, 2000
PubMed

Insights

The MTHFR gene C677T variant is not significantly associated with diabetic nephropathy in Japanese patients. This finding suggests it does not play a major role in the development of this diabetes complication.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Nephrology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Diabetic nephropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus.
  • Genetic factors are believed to contribute to diabetic nephropathy.
  • The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene C677T variant has been linked to vascular diseases and diabetic microangiopathies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between the MTHFR gene C677T variant and diabetic nephropathy in a Japanese population.
  • To determine if MTHFR C677T genotype influences the risk or progression of diabetic nephropathy.

Main Methods:

  • Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) using Hinf I was employed.
  • Genotype distribution of the MTHFR C677T variant was analyzed in 274 Japanese patients with type II diabetes mellitus.
  • Patients were categorized based on the presence or absence of nephropathy, including microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria.

Main Results:

  • No significant difference in the genotype distribution of the MTHFR C677T variant was observed between patients with and without diabetic nephropathy.
  • The distribution of the three genotypes (wild-type, heterozygous, homozygous) did not differ among patients with varying degrees of albuminuria or those without nephropathy.

Conclusions:

  • The MTHFR gene C677T variant does not appear to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy in the Japanese population.
  • These findings contrast with previous reports suggesting a role for this variant in diabetic microangiopathies.

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