Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2000; Vol. 108(3): 235-236
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-7748
Short Communications

© Johann Ambrosius Barth

Leucine 7 to proline 7 polymorphism in the neuropeptide y gene is associated with retinopathy in Type 2 diabetes

L. Niskanen 1, 2 , R. Voutilainen-Kaunisto 3 , M. Teräsvirta 3 , M. K. Karvonen 4 , R. Valve 1 , U. Pesonen 4 , M. Laakso 2 , M. I. J. Uusitupa 1 , M. Koulu 4
  • 1 Department of Clinical Nutrition
  • 2 Department of Medicine
  • 3 Department of Ophtalmology, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland
  • 4 Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2000 (online)

Summary:

In this study we tested the hypothesis that the Leu7Pro7 polymorphism in prepro neuropeptide Y (NPY) gene could be a risk marker for the development of diabetic retinopathy and analyzed a well characterized cohort of patients with Type 2 diabetes followed-up for 10 years from the time of diagnosis. The frequency of Leu7/Pro7-polymorphism was 9.3% (8 out of 86). At baseline, the frequency of retinopathy in patients with the Leu7/Pro7-polymorphism was 25% (2 out of 8) and in those without it 6.4% (5 out of 78) (p = 0.126). At 10-year the respective figures were 88% and 50% (p = 0.040). The odds ratio for Leu7/Pro7-polymorphism in logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, gender and HbA1c was 8.97 (95% confidence intervals 1.09-98.0; p = 0.049). Our finding based on elderly Finnish Type 2 diabetic subjects suggests that the Leu7Pro7-genotype in preproNPY gene is associated with the development of diabetic retinopathy.

References

  • 1 Karvonen M K, Pesonen U, Koulu M, Niskanen L, Laakso M, Rissanen A, Dekker J M, Hart L M, Valve R, Uusitupa M IJ. Association of a leucine(7)-to-proline(7) polymorphism in the signal peptide of neuropeptide Y with high serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels.  Nat Med. 4 1434-1437 1998; 
  • 2 Tomaszuk A, Simpson C, Williams G. Neuropeptide Y, the hypothalamus and the regulation of energy homeostasis.  Horm Res. 46 53-58 1996; 
  • 3 Uusitupa M IJ, Niskanen L K, Siitonen O, Voutilainen E, Pyörälä K. Ten-year cardiovascular mortality in relation to risk factors and abnormalities in lipoprotein composition in type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetic and non-diabetic subjects.  Diabetologia. 36 1175-1184 1993; 
  • 4 Zukowska-Grojec Z, Karwatowska-Prokopczuk E, Rose W, Rone J, Movafagh S, Ji H, Yeh Y, Chen W T, Kleinman H K, Grouzmann E, Grant D S. Neuropeptide Y: a novel angiogenic factor from the sympathetic nerves and endothelium.  Circ Res. 83 187-195 1998; 
  • 5 Zukowska-Grojec Z, Pruszczyk P, Colton C, Yao J, Shen G H, Myers A K, Wahlestedt C. Mitogenic effect of neuropeptide Y in rat vascular smooth muscle cells.  Peptides. 14 263-268 1993; 

1 P = 0.040 (Fisher's test)

Prof. Dr. Leo Niskanen

Department of Medicine, building no 5

University of Kuopio

P.O. Box 1627

FIN-70211 Kuopio, Finnland

Phone: +3 58-17-17 21 63 or + 3 58-17-16 27 80

Fax: +3 58-17-17 39 93

Email: leo.niskanen@kuh.fi