UCP2-866G/A Polymorphism is Associated with Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes

We aimed to investigate associations between the genetics of the rs659366 polymorphism of the uncoupling protein-2 gene (UCP2) with prediabetes (pre-DM) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in a northern Chinese population.

This case-control study recruited 1476 adults: 470 each with pre-DM or T2DM, and 536 healthy controls. The ligase detection reaction on blood samples from all participants was used to identify polymorphisms. Differences in genotype and allele distributions were compared by the χ² test and one-way analysis of variance, and a post hoc pairwise analysis was performed using the Tukey test.

The frequency of AA (11%) genotypes was significantly higher in pre-DM patients than controls (odds ratio [OR] = 1.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.16-2.89, p = 0.008). In the T2DM group, GA (48%) and AA (15%) genotypes were significantly increased compared with the control group (GA: OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.32-2.24, p = 0.001; AA: OR = 3.05, 95% CI = 1.97-4.72, p = 0.001). The frequency of the A allele (control 27%, pre-DM 33% and T2DM 39%) was significantly increased in the pre-DM and T2DM groups compared with the control group, and was significantly associated with an increased risk of pre-DM (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.01-1.74, p = 0.04) and T2DM (OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.32-2.24, p = 0.001). Furthermore, insulin levels in the pre-DM and T2DM groups were significantly decreased in those with the AA genotype compared with the GG and GA genotypes.

UCP2 rs659366 may be involved in the mechanism of insulin secretion and could lead to an increased risk of pre-DM and T2DM.