Restriction fragment length polymorphism of the insulin receptor gene, type 2 diabetes and insulin binding

In searching for a genetic marker of type 2 diabetes we estimated the frequency of alleles of the Bgl II restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the insulin receptor gene in a group of type II diabetic patients (n = 50), characterized by OGTT (glucose, insulin, C-peptide) and insulin receptor binding parameters. Leucocyte DNA was incubated with restriction endonuclease Bgl II and specific fragments were determined by Southern blot technique, using radioactive plasmid pINSR 13.1 as insulin receptor gene probe for hybridization. Insulin receptor numbers and receptor affinity were estimated by 125I-(Tyr-A-14)- insulin binding to red blood cells. Among control subjects the 20 kb fragment (allele Bgl II+) had a frequency of 0.21. In our group of diabetic patients this allele had a frequency of 0.10 (n.s., p greater than 0.05). In our study the insulin receptor genotype had no influence on body mass index, insulin and C-peptide during OGTT as well as insulin receptor binding data. So far, etiopathogenetic linkage between diabetes and insulin receptor variants (mutants) could unambiguously be proved in patients with extreme insulin resistance only. In our opinion, the estimation of the role of the gene as the reason underlying the disease inevitably requires the investigation of large families with multiple occurrence of type 2 diabetes.