Association of OPG genotypes with their serum levels in Iraqi type 2 diabetic patients

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) is an prevalent multifactorial disease that has both genetic and
environmental risk factors, resulting in impaired glucose homeostasis. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a secretory
glycoprotein that belongs to the Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) receptor family and involves in the regulation of
bone metabolism, ectopic calcification including vascular calcification processes, and endothelium
regeneration. OPG is also referred to by its acronym. It is involved in ectopic calcification, which includes
vascular calcification and endothelium renewal, and affects bone metabolism. Common genetic variations that
are functionally significant can be found in the OPG gene, which codes for the protein. Type 2 diabetics have
higher osteoprotegerin concentrations than non-diabetic subjects. OPG has the potential to function as a
biomarker for type 2 diabetes. This study aims to investigate the association of polymorphism of OPG gene
T950>C (rs2073617) gene to their serum levels among Iraqi patients. Using a suitable sample procedure, 65
volunteers (40 verified type 2 diabetic patients and 25 healthy Genetic polymorphism of Osteoprotegerin (OPG)
gene T950>C (rs2073617) was carried out using RFLP-PCR. Serum levels of OPG were performed using by
enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique (ELISA) using a Human- OPG kit. Based on the polymorphism
of OPG gene T950>C, serum levels of OPG were higher among Type2DM patients with TT and CC genotypes
than that with TC genotypes (TT, 2.6764±0.64032, CC 3.4532±1.80736 and TC 1.6103±0.07901, P < 0.05. The
three genotypes for type 2 diabetes also showed an increase in the level of OPG compared to these levels for the
same genotypes of the control group, although there were no significant differences. Furthermore, patients with
TC genotype had the lowest OPG level with an insignificant difference compared to controls1.6103±0.07901 vs.
1.5266±0.04768, P> 0.05. Polymorphism of the Osteoprotegerin (OPG) gene T950>C (rs2073617) can be
associated with the serum levels of OPG among Type2DM patients.