Association of diabetes-related variants in ADCY5 and CDKAL1 with neonatal insulin, C-peptide, and birth weight

Abstract

Background and purpose: Neonates at the highest and lowest percentiles of birth weight present an increased risk of developing metabolic diseases in adult life. While environmental events in utero may play an important role in this association, some genetic variants are associated both with birth weight and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), suggesting a genetic link between intrauterine growth and metabolism in adult life. Variants rs11708067 in ADCY5 and rs7754840 in CDKAL1 are associated with low birth weight, risk of T2DM, and lower insulin secretion in adults. We aimed to investigate whether, besides birth weight, these polymorphisms were related to insulin secretion at birth.

Methods: A cohort of 218 healthy term newborns from uncomplicated pregnancies were evaluated for anthropometric and biochemical variables. Cord blood insulin and C-peptide were analyzed by ELISA. Genotyping of rs11708067 in ADCY5 and rs7754840 in CDKAL1 was performed.

Results: Newborns carrying the A allele of ADCY5 rs11708067 had lower cord blood insulin and C-peptide, even after adjusting by maternal glycemia, HbA1c, and pregestational BMI. Lower birth weight was found for AA-AG genotypes compared to GG, but no differences were seen in adjusted birth weight or z-score. Variant rs7754840 in CDKAL1 was not associated with birth weight, neonatal insulin, or C-peptide for any genotype or genetic model.

Conclusions: The variant rs11708067 in ADCY5 is associated with lower neonatal insulin and C-peptide concentrations. Our results suggest that the genetic influence on insulin secretion may be evident from birth, even in healthy newborns, independently of maternal glycemia and BMI.

Keywords: ADCY5; Birth weight; CDKAL1; Neonatal insulin.