Evidence for Association of the E23K Variant of KCNJ11 Gene with Type 2 Diabetes in Tunisian Population : Population-Based Study and Meta-Analysis

Abstract EN

Aims.

Genetic association studies have reported the E23K variant of KCNJ11 gene to be associated with Type 2 diabetes.

In Arab populations, only four studies have investigated the role of this variant.

We aimed to replicate and validate the association between the E23K variant and Type 2 diabetes in Tunisian and Arab populations.

Methods.

We have performed a case-control association study including 250 Tunisian patients with Type 2 diabetes and 267 controls.

Allelic association has also been evaluated by 2 meta-analyses including all population-based studies among Tunisians and Arabs (2 and 5 populations, resp.).

Results.

A significant association between the E23K variant and Type 2 diabetes was found (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.14–2.27, and P=0.007).

Furthermore, our meta-analysis has confirmed the significant role of the E23K variant in susceptibility of Type 2 diabetes in Tunisian and Arab populations (OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.15–1.46, and P<10-3 and OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.13–1.56, and P=0.001, resp.).

Conclusion.

Both case-control and meta-analyses results revealed the significant association between the E23K variant of KCNJ11 and Type 2 diabetes among Tunisians and Arabs.