Genetic polymorphism of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma 2 Pro12Ala on ethnic susceptibility to diabetes in Uygur, Kazak and Han subjects

1. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-g Pro12Ala polymorphism affects susceptibility to diabetes in Uygur, Kazak and Han subjects in Xinjiang, China. 2. Uygur, Kazak and Han subjects from Kashi, Yili and Shawan (Xinjiang, China) were enrolled in the present study. The PPAR-g Pro12Ala polymorphism was determined using restriction fragment length polymorphism. Anthropometric and serum biological indices were monitored among different genotype carriers to examine the PPAR-g Pro12Ala gene polymorphism and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes. 3. The distribution frequency of the Pro12Ala genotype did not differ between diabetic and non-diabetic Uygur, Kazak and Han subjects. However, the frequency of the A allele of Pro12Ala was significant different among non-diabetics, with frequencies of 11, 9 and 5% in Uygur, Kazak and Han groups, respectively. Using the c(2) test, it was shown that the frequency of the A allele in Uygurs (11%) was significantly higher than that in Han subjects (5%). To compare the wild-type (Pro/Pro) carriers in diabetics from each ethnic group, Ugyur subjects, who carry PPAR-g Pro12Ala (Pro/Ala), had a larger waist circumference and lower low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level, Kazaks subjects showed larger waist circumference and higher high-density lipoprotein levels and Han subjects exhibited a high waist-to-hip ratio and body mass index. 4. The present study revealed that the allele and genotype frequency did not differ in diabetics and non-diabetics of each ethnic group. However, the frequency of the A allele was significantly different in non-diabetics from various ethnic groups. These data suggest that PPAR-g Pro12Ala may affect blood lipid levels and the abdominal fat storage of diabetic Ugyurs and Kazaks and may be associated with fat storage and insulin resistance in Hans.