G‐protein β3‐subunit C825T genotype and nephropathy in diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have identified a novel polymorphism (C825T) of the gene encoding the beta(3) subunit of heterotrimeric G proteins (G:beta(3)) which is associated with enhanced activation of G-proteins and appears to be more common in hypertensive patients and possibly contributes to decreased kidney allograft survival. METHODS: In the present study we examined the relationship between this genetic variant, type 1 and type 2 diabetes and renal complications of diabetes in 1008 Caucasian patients recruited from an outpatient diabetes clinic and four dialysis centres. We also studied 1940 healthy controls. RESULTS: After multivariate adjustment and in univariate statistics, the G:beta(3) 825TT genotype was not associated with a significantly enhanced risk of diabetes or renal complications. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that the G:beta(3) 825T allele apparently does not contribute to the development of diabetes or associated renal complications in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus.