Identification of gene variants in NOS3, ET-1 and RAS that confer risk and protection against microangiopathy in type 2 diabetic obese subjects

The study aim was to investigate NOS3 VNTR, NOS3 G894T, EDN1 C8002T, ACE I/D, AGT M235T and AGTR1 A1166C in nonobese and obese T2DM patients, and their interaction with the incidence of microangiopathy. T2DM subjects (n = 250; 166 nonobese, and 84 obese) were genotyped for the gene variants by PCR/RFLP. The interaction of these polymorphisms with obesity and their contribution to microangiopathy were analyzed by multivariate regression analysis. A higher frequency of NOS3 4a allele was found in obese (P = 0.027) vs. nonobese subjects. ACE D (P = 0.009) and AGT 235T (P = 0.026) alleles were associated with the reduced risk of diabetic nephropathy in nonobese and obese patients, respectively. In obese subjects, NOS3 4a (P = 0.011) had a converse effect to NOS3 894T (P = 0.043), and EDN1 8002T (P = 0.035) on the prevalence of combined microangiopathy (neuropathy/retinopathy/nephropathy) vs. microangiopathy-negative subjects. The study indicates association of RAS variants with obesity and nephropathy, and an opposite effect of NOS3 VNTR and NOS3 G894T on the occurrence of combined microangiopathy.

► Higher frequency of NOS3 4a allele was found in obese vs. nonobese subjects.
► NOS3 4a had an opposite effect to NOS3 894T on the prevalence of microangiopathy in obese subjects.
► ACE D and AGT 235T alleles associated with the reduced risk of diabetic nephropathy.