ASSOCIATION OF C677T MTHFRGENE POLYMORPHISMS WITH DIABETIC NEPHROPATHY

Diabetic Nephropathy is one of the main microvascular complications of diabetic mellitus. Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) is one of the candidate genes of diabetic nephropathy. MTHFR (C677T) polymorphism reduces catalytic activity of MTHFR and leads to increase level of plasma homocysteine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of C677T polymorphism with diabetic nephropathy.
In this case control study, 300 individuals, including type 2 diabetes mellitus with diabetic nephropathy (N=104), diabetes mellitus patients without diabetic nephropathy (N=100) and controls (N=96) participated. The MTHFR genotype was determined using PCR-RFLP technique and biochemical parameters were measured.
Genotype frequencies were significantly different between patients with diabetic nephropathy and diabetes mellitus without nephropathy (TT vs CC; P=0.02,OR:0.5,CI:0.3-0.9).The allele frequency was also significantly different between diabetic nephropathy and diabetics mellitus without nephropathy(P=0.013,OR:1.754,CI:1.123-2.740).
These findings suggest that there is an association between C677T polymorphism and nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes. Allele C increase the risk of nephropathy, and T allele has a protective role in susceptibility to disease.