AGTR1 rs5186 variants in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the leading causes of death in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and genetic factor can influence development of this complication. Association of Angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AGTR1) gene and DN has been evaluated in recent years. This study aim was to assess the association of AGTR1 gene polymorphisms with DN in a group of Iranian diabetic patients. In the present study, 97 patients with DM, 94 patients with DN and 100 healthy controls were included. Allele and genotype frequencies of AGTR1A1166C (rs5186) were determined by ARMS PCR technique. In all groups, blood glucose concentration, creatinine, urea and HbA1c were measured and urine albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) as well as glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was calculated. A statistically significant association was found between C allele of rs5186 and DN (odds ratio (OR) = 1.84 [95% CI: 1.10-3.08]; p_value = 0.03). Among patients with DM, carriers of C allele (AC + CC) had significantly higher ACR (p_value = 0.04) compared to AA homozygote patients. This study showed the association of AGTR1 gene polymorphisms (rs5186) with increased urinary albumin excretion in a group of Iranian patients with DM. Also, C allele can be introduced as a risk allele for DN.