Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Resistin is a hormone that potentially links obesity to T2DM. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified in the resistin gene (RETN). Polymorphism of RETN +299 (G>A) may contribute to increased resistin levels, which may be involved in the pathogenesis of T2DM.

Aim of work: To study the association between resistin gene +299 polymorphism and insulin resistance in non-diabetic offspring of T2DM.

Methods: This case control study included 60 volunteers divided into two groups:

Group A: Control group including 30 healthy individuals with negative family history of DM.

Group B: Offspring of patients with T2DM including 30 non-diabetic individuals with positive family history of DM. The latter group was further classified after OGTT into:

Group B1: 15 individuals with normal glucose tolerance

Group B2: 15 individuals with impaired glucose tolerance. All individuals had an estimation of serum resistin level by ELISA and RETN+299 polymorphism by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Results: We found a statistically significant increase of serum resistin (AA genotype and combined GA+AA genotypes), decrease in GG genotype, increase of A allele (P<0.03) and increase in the indices of insulin resistance in the impaired glucose tolerant offspring as compared to the control individuals as well as normal glucose tolerant offspring. There was also a statistically significant association between hyperglycemia and resistin gene polymorphism at positions +299 (G>A). Moreover, a significant positive correlation was found between serum resistin level and insulin resistance in impaired glucose tolerant offspring.

Conclusions: The present study supports that RETN+299 G>A SNP and increase in serum resistin may have contributed to increased insulin resistance with subsequent susceptibility to T2DM in offspring of type 2 diabetic patients. Those carrying AA and combined GA+AA genotypes are more at risk.

Keywords: Resistin gene polymorphism; Insulin resistance; Type 2 diabetes mellitus; SNP.