The Association Study of The E23k Kcnj11 Variant with Progression of Type 2 Diabetes Among Obese Individuals in A Population in the North of Iran

Obesity is a polygenic disorder and a risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D). The E23K variant of KCNJ11gene is responsible for reduction in electrical excitability of pancreatic β- cells contributing to the impairment of insulin secretion, a common dysfunction in obese T2D individuals due to increase in KATP channel activity in the presence of LC-CoAs. Several studies have reported the association of the E23K variant with T2D and obesity in different populations. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the E23K variant with progression of T2D among obese individuals in a population of Guilan in the north of Iran. Two case-control association studies were performed using 210 T2D and non-diabetic-obese individuals as well as 536 T2D and non-diabetic subjects without obesity. MGB TaqMan assay by Real time PCR (ABI 7300) was applied for genotyping of samples. According to allele frequency, there were no significant differences between diabetic and non-diabetic obese subjects or between non-obese individuals with and without T2D. With genotype frequency comparison, in obese subjects there was significant difference between diabetic and non diabetic individuals in a recessive genetic model [OR=4.4 CI 95 %(0.98-19.96) P=0.024]. However, in non-obese individuals, there was no significant difference in diabetic and non diabetic subjects. This study reports that the E23K variant is associated with progression of T2D in obese individuals. More investigations in larger popula‌tions with insulin measurment are recommended.