Molecular genetics of diabetes mellitus in Chinese subjects: identification of mutations in glucokinase and hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha genes in patients with early-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus/MODY.
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Ng MC, Cockburn BN, Lindner TH, Yeung VT, Chow CC, So WY, Li JK, Lo YM, Lee ZS, Cockram CS, Critchley JA, Bell GI, Chan JC
Molecular genetics of diabetes mellitus in Chinese subjects: identification of mutations in glucokinase and hepatocyte nuclear factor-1alpha genes in patients with early-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus/MODY.
Diabet Med. 1999 Nov;16(11):956-63.
- PubMed ID
- 10588527 [ View in PubMed]
- Abstract
AIMS: To examine the prevalence of identified MODY-related genes in Chinese subjects with early onset Type 2 diabetes mellitus and a positive family history of diabetes and to look for possible associations between the gene mutations and the development of diabetes. METHODS: Ninety-two unrelated Chinese subjects with diabetes diagnosed before the age of 40 years who had a positive family history of diabetes were screened for mutations in hepatocyte nuclear factors (HNF-1alpha and HNF-4alpha) and glucokinase genes by direct sequencing. The family members of patients with mutations and 100 healthy controls were also examined. RESULTS: Mutations in the HNF-1alpha and the glucokinase genes were found in 5% and 3% of the diabetic subjects, respectively but no mutations were found in the coding region of the HNF-4alpha gene. Three mutations found in the glucokinase gene were novel missense mutations (I110T, A119D and G385V). The mutations in the HNF-1alpha gene were also new and included four missense mutations (G20R, R203H, S432C, I618M) and one splice acceptor site mutation (IVS2nt-1G-->A). Patients with mutations in these genes were clinically heterogeneous with respect to phenotype and basal pancreatic beta cell function. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic factors such as mutations in the HNF-1alpha and glucokinase genes may be important in the development of diabetes in Chinese people, especially when the disease is of early onset.