Objective: To investigate the relationship between the polymorphism of site rs228648 in urotensin II gene and the genetic susceptibility to gestational diabetes mellitus in northern Chinese women.
Methods: Genotyping was conducted to investigate the polymorphism of site rs228648 (G-A) in urotensin II gene among 70 unrelated gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) subjects and 70 normal controls. DNA samples isolated from leucocyte of the control and study groups were analyzed for single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the urotensin II gene at positions rs228648 using polymerase chain reaction and restriction analysis.
Results: (1) The distribution of genotype frequencies of site rs228648 accorded with Hardy-Weinberg's equation law, being colony representative. (2) The frequency of G allele of site rs228648 was 70.7% in GDM group, significantly higher than that in the control group (57.9%, P < 0.05); and the frequency of A allele of site rs228648 was 29.3% in GDM group, significantly lower than that in the control group (42.1%, P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the frequency of G/G genotype between GDM group and control group (52.9% vs 41.4%, P > 0.05). (3) Women in control group were more likely to be homozygous for the allele A of site rs228648 than women with GDM. The frequency of A/A genotype of rs228648 was negatively correlated with GDM group. By the logistic procedure, after adjustment by age and gestational weeks, the odds ratio was 0.312, and Wald Confidence Limites were 0.108 to 0.900 (P = 0.031).
Conclusion: Urotensin II gene may contribute to the genetic susceptibility to gestational diabetes mellitus in northern Chinese population. G allele of site rs228648 is related to GDM possibly, and that homozygosis A of site rs228648 is likely to be an important protecting factor for GDM.