Affiliations: Department of Nephrology, University of Thessaly,
School of Medicine, Larissa, Greece | Department of Home Economics and Ecology, Harokopio
University, Athens, Greece | Department of Biomathematics, University of Thessaly
School of Medicine, Larissa, Greece | Institute for Clinical Research and Health Policy
Studies, Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University School
of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Associate Professor Elias Zintzaras,
Department of Biomathematics, University of Thessaly School of Medicine,
Papauyriazi 22, Larissa 41222, Greece. Tel./Fax: +30 2410 565063; E-mail:
zintza@med.uth.gr
Abstract: Altered expression of the facilitated glucose transporter GLUT1
affects pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. There
is indication that variation of GLUT1 gene (SLC2A1) contributes to
development of microangiopathy in diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM) patients. A
genetic association study involving Caucasians was carried out to investigate
the role of XbαI polymorphism in the GLUT1 gene in diabetic
nephropathy (DN). Study population (n=240) consisted of 148 unrelated
patients with DM (92 cases with diabetic nephropathy (DN)), and of 92 matched
healthy control subjects. Diabetic nephropathy was defined as persistent
albuminuria (>300 mg/24 h) and/or renal failure, in the absence of
non-diabetes induced renal disease. The analysis showed that the risk of
developing DM and DN in XbaI(−) carriers, when healthy individuals were
considered as controls, was two-fold: odds ratio (OR) 2.08 [95% confidence
interval (1.14–3.79)]. However, there was no evidence of association between
XbaI(−) and DN when patients with DM and without DN were considered as
controls: OR=1.12 (0.55–2.26). Thus, the GLUT1 XbaI(−) allele is
associated with DM, and possibly with a more severe form of the disease that
can lead to development of DN.
Keywords: Diabetes type 2, diabetic microangiopathy, diabetic nephropathy, GLUT1, polymorphism
