Journal of Pharmacogenomics & Pharmacoproteomics

Abstract

Genomic Loci Evaluation with Albuminuria in New-Onset Insulin Dependent Diabetic Patients

Anna Sleder, Jia Li, Andrea Cassidy-Bushrow, Sharon Cresci, Keoki Williams, Hani N Sabbah and David Lanfear

Background: Extensive data supports the genetic underpinnings of diabetes and recent studies implicate several genetic loci associated with renal insufficiency and albuminuria. Moreover, albuminuria in diabetic patients is an important risk marker for atherosclerotic disease as well as cardiomyopathy. The purpose of this study was to identify genetic determinants of albuminuria in a diabetic patient population at the time of insulin initiation.

Methods: Study population included type 2 diabetic subjects at the time of initiation of insulin in an observational cohort who donated saliva samples for DNA extraction. Urine albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) and HbA1c levels at baseline were collected and analyzed for association with genotype (N=128).

Results: Although none of the SNPs met statistical significance after Bonferroni adjustment, two regions showed near-significant associations with UACR; one on chromosome 1 (p=8.66 E-07) and one on chromosome 12 (p=9.82 E-07).

Conclusions: In this small study of newly insulin-dependent diabetics we identified two genomic regions possibly associated with albuminuria. These loci are good candidates for further investigation into the moderators of cardiovascular disease in diabetics. Larger confirmatory studies are needed.