Gestational diabetes mellitus screening based on the gene chip technique

AimThe present study sought to validate the gene chip technique to screen for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).MethodsWe selected 70 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with diabetes in previous studies, and SNP genotyping was performed in 130 cases (50 diabetes patients and 80 normal controls whose mean term of pregnancies are similarly 38–39 weeks). Relevant SNP patterns were established, and gene chips were designed after statistically analyzing the data. Peripheral blood samples were then collected from 24 healthy pregnant women and 24 pregnant women with GDM for gene chip analysis. The results of the gene chip method were also verified by DNA sequencing.ResultsFour candidate SNPs (rs13266634, rs266729, rs3802177 and rs9300039) were obtained after genotyping. Primers were designed based on the four SNPs, and gene chips met the quality standard according to signal intensity. The genotypes of SNPs rs3802177, rs13266634 and rs266729 showed significant differences between healthy pregnant women and pregnant women with GDM, and these results were identical to those obtained with the DNA sequencing method.ConclusionsWe have demonstrated the feasibility of the gene chip technique in screening GDM and identified candidate loci with which to study this disease.