[Association of SOCS3 gene polymorphisms with insulin resistance in Xinjiang Uygur population]

To assess the association of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) gene polymorphisms with insulin resistance (IR) in Xinjiang Uygur population.

A cross-sectional study on metabolic diseases, e.g., obesity, was conducted on ethnic Uygurs in Hetian, Xinjiang of China. A total of 1292 Uygur individuals were enrolled. The sample size for IR subjects [homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) ≥ 2.96] was 323, whereas that for non-IR controls was 969 (HOMA-IR < 2.96). Representative variations were selected from database and genotyped with TaqMan polymerase chain reaction method. For the relatively isolated population from a homogeneous environment, a case-control study was conducted to assess the association between variations of SOCS3 gene and IR.

A significant difference in genotype distribution of rs4969168 was detected between IR and control groups in males (chi square =7.216, P=0.027). Although the IR-related quantitative phenotypes did not significantly differ between individuals with GG, AG and AA genotypes of rs4969168 in the overall, male and female population (P > 0.05), the mean of body mass index and the median of fasting insulin increased in individuals with GG, AG, AA genotypes in males. Haplotype 2 (rs12953258C-rs4969168A-rs9914220C) was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of IR in males (P=0.023). Logistic regression analysis indicated that AG genotype of rs4969168 variation is a protective factor for IR in males (OR=1.772, 95% confidence interval: 1.081-2.906, P=0.023).

Our study suggested that the rs4969168 polymorphism of SOCS3 gene is associated with IR in ethnic Uygur population from Xinjiang, China.