A M55V Polymorphism in the SUMO4 Gene is Associated with a Reduced Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract

Aims: We studied the association between a functionally relevant M55V polymorphism in the SUMO4 gene with microvascular diabetic complications in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Methods: 223 patients with type 1 diabetes were studied using polymerase chain reaction and subsequent cleavage by restriction endonucleases for the M55V SUMO4 gene variant.

Results: No effect of the polymorphism on diabetic neuropathy or diabetic nephropathy was found, but heterozygous or homozygous patients for the M55V polymorphism in the SUMO4 gene had a markedly reduced prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (odds ratio 0.37, 95%-confidence interval (CI) [0.32;0.43]; p=0.004). Furthermore, a multiple logistic regression model showed an age and diabetes duration independent effect of the M55V polymorphisms on the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (p=0.03), but not of diabetic neuropathy or nephropathy.

Conclusions: Our data indicate that the M55V polymorphism in the SUMO4 gene is associated with a reduced risk of diabetic retinopathy in type 1 diabetes. Thus, the results of our study suggest that posttranslational modification of proteins via SUMO4 could contribute to the development of certain diabetic complications.

Key words

small ubiquitin-related modifiers - SUMO4 - polymorphism - diabetic retinopathy - type 1 diabetes

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Correspondence