Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) protein plays an important role in glucose and lipid metabolisms. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TCF7L2 gene contribute to increased fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and body mass index (BMI), and altered lipid concentrations in various population. We investigated whether the TCF7L2 SNPs were associated with obesity, high FPG and altered lipid profile in the Balinese. A total of 608 Balinese from rural and urban Bali, Indonesia, were recruited. Triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), total cholesterol (TC) and FPG were measured, and BMI was calculated. Ratios of TG/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, and TC/HDL-C were determined. Genotyping of SNPs rs7903146, rs10885406, and rs12255372 were done in all samples. Genetic association analyses under a dominant model showed that the rs7903146 (OR 5.50, 95% CI 2.34-12.91, p = 8.5 × 10-5), rs12255372 (OR 4.15, 95% CI 1.66-10.33, p = 0.003) and rs10885406 (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.39-4.25, p = 0.003) were significantly associated with high TC/HDL-C ratio. The rs10885406 also presented a significant association with high TG (OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.29-3.81, p = 0.004) and low HDL-C (OR 3.02, 95% CI 1.58-5.80, p = 0.001) concentrations, as well as high TG/HDL-C ratio (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.16-3.27, p = 0.013). None of the SNPs exhibited significant association with obesity or high FPG. SNPs in the TCF7L2 gene are associated with altered lipid profile in the Balinese.
Keywords: Genetic association; Lipid profile; SNPs; TCF7L2.