The Combined Effect of ACE, TCF7L2, and PPARGC1A Gene Polymorphisms in Diabetic Nephropathy

Objective: This study was performed for investigation the relationship between variants of ACE, TCF7L2 and PPARGC1A gene polymorphisms individually or in combination with the development of nephropathy in T2DM. Subject and Methods: The study was included 85 T2DM patients (45 with nephropathy and 40 without nephropathy), and 45 healthy control subjects. The I/D polymorphism of ACE gene was evaluated by PCR method. The polymorphisms rs7903146 (C/T) of TCF7L2 gene and Gly482Ser (G/A) and Thr394Thr (G/A) of PPARGC1A gene were evaluated by PCR-RFLP analysis. Results: The frequency of ACE DD genotype and D allele was significantly higher in DN patients when compared to diabetic without nephropathy. The frequency of TCF7L2 rs7903146 TT genotype and T allele were significantly associated with DN patients compared to T2DM. Moreover, a significant association in A allelic frequencies was observed in DN cases compared to T2DM patients without nephropathy. No differences in the genotypic and allelic frequencies between T2DM patients with and without nephropathy were found for the Thr394Thr polymorphism. Conclusions: Our study suggested that candidate gene polymorphisms I/D of ACE, rs7903146 of TCF7L2 and Gly482Ser of PPARGC1A individually or in combination may act as susceptibility biomarkers for nephropathy in T2DM.