Association of variants in AGTR1, ACE, MTHFR genes with microalbuminuria and risk factors for the onset of diabetic nephropathy in adolescents with type 1 diabetes in the population of Serbia

Abstract

Introduction: Genetic studies may provide valuable information about patients who are at high risk of developing diabetes nephropathy. Before the appearance of albuminuria, there are genetic mutations that can predispose the development of kidney disease.

Material and methods: The study included 130 adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of microalbuminuria. This study was performed to examine clinical and laboratory differences between adolescents with type 1 diabetes with and without microalbuminuria and the distribution of the ACE, AGTR1, and MTHFR gene polymorphisms.

Results: The mean microalbuminuria in the first group 6.41±7.35 significantly differs from the second group 0.82±0.48 (p<0.001). HbA1c, 24-hour proteinuria, and day-time systolic blood pressure were significantly higher in the MA group (p<0.05). Smaller systolic blood pressure percentage nocturnal decline was observed in the microalbuminuric group (p 0.030). The frequencies of the ACE DD, ID, and II genotypes were 12.5%, 50.0%, and 37.5%, respectively, among T1D patients with MA, and 19.3%, 56.1%, 24.6%, in the control group without MA (P = .510). The frequencies of the AGTR1 AA, AC, and CC genotypes were 62.5%, 25.0%, and 12.5% among TID patients with MA, and 49.1%, 43.9%, 8.0%, in the group without MA (p 0.326). The frequencies of the MTHFR CC, CT and TT genotypes were 37.5%, 50.0%, 12.5% among TID patients with MA, and 37.7%, 45.6%, 16.7% in the group without MA (p 0.901).

Conclusion: Our data suggest that common variants in the AGTR1, ACE, and MTHFR genes are not strongly associated with diabetic nephropathy in our patients with type 1 diabetes.