CD36 gene variants in early prediction of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is a noncommunicable disease affecting huge populations in India and abroad. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CD36, a macrophage scavenger receptor, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of T2DM and its complications. Eleven SNPs in the CD36 gene and their association with 100 each of control subjects and T2DM patients were investigated in the present study. The haplotype analysis of a few significant SNPs was carried out in individuals from families with diabetic history to evaluate its utility in disease prediction. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used for genotyping. Ten families with a family history of diabetes were identified and blood samples were collected from as many family members as possible. Genotyping of three SNPs, namely rs1761667 (G>A) in exon 1 A, rs3211938 (T>G) in exon 10, and rs3212018 (16 bp del) in exon 14, was performed in all samples. Our results suggested that individuals having a GATTC1 haplotype might be at risk of developing T2DM (p<0.001) and, therefore, might be susceptible to related complications. Moreover, the presence of A, G, and G alleles of SNPs rs1761667 (G>A), rs3211938 (T>G), and rs1984112 (T>G) tends to have increased BMI, respectively. Such studies may be helpful for disease prediction in individuals at risk of T2DM. The predictive potential of CD36 variants can be explored with more families in the study population to use this as a genetic marker.