Association of the TPO gene in Colombian families with type 1 diabetes

Abstract

We have found linkage and association of type 1 diabetes (T1D) to 2p25. The TPO gene lies within this region. Our aim was to test the association of this gene with the susceptibility to T1D in a group of Colombian families, all of them originated in Antioquia, a special population in northwestern Colombia. One hundred familial trios with type 1 diabetes (T1D) were analyzed. They had already been studied for anti-glutamic acid descarboxilase (GAD) antibodies and the marker locus D2S319. For further characterization, the probands were tested for autoantibodies against insulin, TPO and thyrosine phosphatase 2 (IA-2). Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs4927611 and rs732609) were tested in TPO. These two markers were chosen considering that the polymorphism changes the encoded amino-acid and a minor allele frequency, MAF, ≥ 0.3. SNP typing was carried out by means of the polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphisms (PCR-RFLP) and the tetraprimer amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS-PCR) methods. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) and linkage disequilibrium (LD) analyses were separately tested on both parents and probands. Genetic association was tested by the transmission disequilibrium test (TDT).

It was found that 86% of the patients presented at least one of the three auto-antibodies tested. Both parents and probands were found in HWE for both SNPs. In addition, the two markers were found in tight LD (p < 0.0001). A haplotype associated with susceptibility to the disease was identified

(p = 0.0116).

Autoimmunity was found in a proportion similar to that previously reported. It was found that a haplotype at TPO gene is associated with the disease. Such haplotype is characterized by alleles G and A at rs4927611 and rs732609 SNPs, respectively. Our results suggest a possible causative participation of the TPO gene in T1D. In order to verify them, a sample of equivalent size is currently being collected, from the same population in Colombia.