Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Gene Polymorphism in Iranian Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) is a Zinc metalloproteinaseconverts Ang-I to Ang- II, a pro-inflammatory agent which may contribute to pathophysiology of some diseases like type 2 diabetes. To investigate the relationship between ACE I/D polymorphism and type 2 diabetes in 261 Iranian casecontrol pairs. 170 patients (85 type 2 diabetics with nephropathy and 85 type 2 diabetics without nephropathy) and 91 healthy control subjects were enrolled in our study. I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) utilizing specific primers. The frequency of DD genotype in the DN group was higher than that of the type 2 diabetic patients (30.6% vs. 20%, P =0.157) and the control group (30.6% vs. 14.3%, P=0.006). The frequency of D allele in nephropathic patients was 58.2% as compared to type 2 diabetic patients without nephropathy 50.5% (P=0.19) and control subjects 37.3% (P =0.001). Therefore, the frequency of DD genotype and D allele significantly increased in DN patients in comparison to healthy controls. It is concluded that the DD genotype and/or D allele of ACE gene may increase the risk for type 2 diabetes but not diabetic nephropathy.