The Relationship Between AKR1B1 rs759853 (C-106T) Polymorphism and the Diabetic Retinopathy Severity in Turkish Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients

Abstract

Aim: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an important health problem with an increasing incidence worldwide and causes many complications. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most serious complications of DM. Polymorphisms of the AKR1B1 gene, which encodes an aldose reductase enzyme, have been associated with development of DM and DR in some studies. The current study aims to investigate the relationship of AKR1B1 rs759853 polymorphism with type 2 DM (T2DM), DR and DR severity in the Turkish population. Materials and Methods: A total of 437 individuals, including 141 T2DM patients without DR, 125 T2DM patients with DR, and 171 healthy controls, were included in the study. Genotyping was performed using PCR-RFLP method.Results: An association between T allele / TT genotype and increased risk of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) was detected. In the logistic regression analysis in which other risk factors were included, rs759853 polymorphism and diabetes duration were found to be associated with the PDR development. There was no significant relationship between the AKR1B1 rs759853 variation and the development of T2DM and DR. Conclusion: Obtained data showed that AKR1B1 rs759853 polymorphism is not associated with the development of T2DM and DR in the Turkish patients, but TT genotype and diabetes duration are independent risk factors for the development of PDR.