A Genetic Clue to T2DM in Bangladesh: The TCF7L2 rs12255372 (G/T) Variant

Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) has emerged as a promising candidate gene associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and the intronic variant rs12255372 of the TCF7L2 gene has demonstrated a robust association with T2DM across various ethnic groups. We sought to determine the frequency of rs12255372 polymorphism in the Bangladeshi adult population, both with and without T2DM.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Endocrinology Department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. Eighty patients with T2DM and 80 normoglycemic controls were included in the study. The rs12255372 polymorphism was genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique.

An allelic odds ratio (OR) of 3.29 (95% CI: 1.78-6.05; p < 0.001) was found for the minor T allele of rs12255372, significantly increasing the T2DM risk. A significant difference in TT and GT genotypes was noted between participants with T2DM (OR = 5.26, 95% CI: 1.39-19.9; p = 0.008) and normoglycemic controls (OR = 3.00, 95% CI: 1.33-6.75; p = 0.007), respectively. The dominant model appears to be the most suitable for representing the susceptibility gene effect.

The frequency of the minor T allele of rs12255372 was about one-fourth and one-tenth among patients with T2DM and normoglycemic controls, respectively, indicating that this polymorphism may be associated with the risk of developing T2D in the studied population.