The N363S polymorphism in the glucocorticoid receptor gene is associated with overweight in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE

A single nucleotide polymorphism (A1220G; N363S) in exon 2 of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1), associated with increased sensitivity to glucocorticoids, was shown to be associated with obesity in nondiabetic subjects. Here, we investigated the impact of this variant on traits related to obesity and hyperglycaemia in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS

The N363S variant was screened by restriction fragment length polymorphism technique following DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction in 369 French Caucasians with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

RESULTS

Twenty subjects were found to be heterozygous for the variant (AG genotype frequency 0.0542). The prevalence of overweight [body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m2] was higher in AG carriers than in AA carriers (100%vs. 73%, P = 0.003). Moreover, the mean body weight and the BMI were higher in AG as compared to AA carriers, although only the body weight was significantly different between groups. However, when only the men were considered, a significantly higher BMI was observed in AG as compared to AA carriers: 30.0 +/- 4.8 vs. 27.3 +/- 4.6 kg/m2 (BMI Z-score 1.28 +/- 1.38 vs. 0.55 +/- 1.17; P = 0.035). No evidence was found for an association of the N363S variant with parameters related to the severity of hyperglycaemia.

CONCLUSIONS

The 363S allele of the N363S variant of NR3C1 is associated with the susceptibility to overweight in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus.