Variation in the UCP2-UCP3 Gene Cluster Predicts the Development of Type 2 Diabetes in Healthy Middle-Aged Men
- David R. Gable1,
- Jefferey W. Stephens2,
- Jackie A. Cooper1,
- George J. Miller3 and
- Steve E. Humphries1
- 1Centre For Cardiovascular Genetics, Royal Free and University College London (UCL) Medical School, Rayne Institute, London, U.K
- 2Medical School, University of Wales Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea, U.K
- 3Medical Research Council Cardiovascular Group, Centre for Environmental and Preventive Medicine, Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine, Charterhouse Square, London, U.K
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to David Gable, Centre For Cardiovascular Genetics, Royal Free and UCL Medical School, The Rayne Institute, 5 University St., London, WC1E 6JJ, U.K. E-mail: d.gable{at}ucl.ac.uk
Abstract
The impact of the UCP2 −866G>A and UCP3 −55C>T variants on prospective risk of type 2 diabetes was examined over 15 years in 2,936 healthy middle-aged men (mean age 56 years). Conversion to diabetes (n = 169) was associated with higher BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides and C-reactive protein. The hazard ratio (HR) for diabetes of a BMI >30 kg/m2 was 3.96 (95% CI 2.87–5.47). Homozygosity for the UCP2A or UCP3T alleles accelerated the onset of diabetes, with significant differences in risk of diabetes at 10 years (HR [95% CI] UCP2AA vs. GA+GG 1.94 [1.18–3.19], P = 0.009; UCP3TT vs. CC+ CT 2.06 [1.06–3.99], P = 0.03) but less so at 15 years (UCP2AA 1.42 [0.92–2.19], P = 0.1; UCP3TT 1.57 [0.87–2.04], P = 0.13). Men who were homozygous for both UCP2AA and UCP3TT (1.5% of men) had a risk for diabetes at 10 years of 4.20 (1.70–10.37), P = 0.002. These genotype effects were additive with obesity, and men with a BMI >30 kg/m2 and this genotype combination had a 10-year risk of diabetes of 19.23 [5.63–63.69], P < 0.0001. Functional promoter variants UCP2 and UCP3 increase the prospective risk of diabetes. Although the mechanism of the UCP2 effect is likely to be caused by increased expression in the pancreas and subsequent reduced insulin secretion, the mechanism of the UCP3 effect is currently unknown. Both effects are exacerbated by obesity.
- CRP, C-reactive protein
- NPHSII, Second Northwick Park Heart Study
- ROS, reactive oxygen species
- UCP, uncoupling protein
Footnotes
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The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked “advertisement” in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.
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- Accepted January 30, 2006.
- Received December 20, 2005.
- DIABETES
