Association of transforming growth factor-β1 T869C gene polymorphism with diabetic nephropathy risk.

AIM

A possible association between the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) T869C gene polymorphism and the risk of developing diabetic nephropathy (DN) remains unclear. This investigation was performed to assess if an association between the TGF-β1 T869C gene polymorphism and DN risk exists by using meta-analysis to combine comparable studies, thereby increasing sample size and statistical significance, and to identify patterns in various studies.

METHODS

The association reports were identified from PubMed, Cochrane Library, and CBM-disc (China Biological Medicine Database) on 1 May 2013, and eligible studies were recruited and synthesized.

RESULTS

Fifty reports were recruited into this meta-analysis for the association of the TGF-β1 T869C gene polymorphism with DN risk. The TT genotype in the overall population was shown to be associated with DN risk (odds ratio (OR) = 0.74, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.56-0.98, P = 0.04). In the sub-group analysis, CC genotype was associated with DN risk in Asians, Caucasians, and Africans. However, the sample size for Caucasians and Africans was relatively small. Furthermore, T allele was distinctly associated with the risk of developing DN in the Asian population (OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.62-0.92, P = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

The TT genotype of TGF-β1 T869C in the overall population was associated with DN risk, whereas the CC genotype and T allele were distinctly associated with DN risk in the Asian population. Nonetheless, additional studies are required to firmly establish a correlation between the aforementioned polymorphism and DN risk.