Transcription Factor 7- Like -2 (TCF7L2) rs7903146 (C/T) polymorphism in Iraqi patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a metabolic disorder that develops as different cell groups resist insulin action on peripheral tissues. Eventually, the pancreas cannot produce sufficient insulin to overcome this resistance, resulting in insulin deficiency. The transcription factor 7-like-2 gene (TCF7L2) rs7903146 (C/T) polymorphism is one of the most susceptible genes to T2DM discovered to date, with the contribution to the disease through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway affecting pancreatic islet development. To investigate and analyze the correlation of TCF7L2 gene polymorphisms and their association with type 2 diabetes for Iraqi patients. This study included 80 blood samples equally divided into two groups: patients with T2DM and normal healthy controls. All Genotypes of rs7903146 (C/T) SNP in theTCF7L2 gene were evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction via TaqMan allelic discrimination. Analysis of the distribution of the TCF7L2 rs7903146 genotype and allele revealed that the TT genotype was more frequent in the T2DM group (32.5%) than in healthy controls (12.5%) (OR = 5.9, 95% confidence interval (CI = 1.6–20.6, p = 0.05). The T allele was more frequent in diabetic patients (52.5%) than healthy control (25%), and it was associated with high risk of diabetes (odd ratio = 3.3, 95% CI= 1.6- 6.4), P=0.0005. Conclusion: The T allele of rs7903146 polymorphism of TCF7L2 confers susceptibility to the development of T2DM in the Iraqi population. Keywords: Type 2 diabetes mellitus · Transcription factor 7-like-2 ·rs7903146 polymorphism