Association of FTO Gene Variants with Some Biochemical Markers of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Iraqi Population

Abstract

Background: The Fat-mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene modulates the gene expression through methylation–demethylation modifications since it is part of Fe (II) - and 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases superfamily. This study was carried out in the Department of Clinical Laboratories / College of Applied Medical Sciences / University of Kerbala during the period from November 2022 to April 2024. The study aimed to investigate the association between the variation in the FTO gene and serum level of some biochemical markers in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients within the Iraqi Population.

Patients and Methods: One hundred volunteers participated in this study, 50 individuals with Type 2 DM as a patient’s group (25 females and 25 males), and 50 apparently healthy individuals as a control group (25 females and 25 males). The ages of all participants were ranged between 25 to 75 years at the time of the investigation. We investigate three sites in the FTO gene (FTO 1, FTO 2, and FTO 3). The variation of the FTO gene was investigated by the Sanger sequencing method. The levels of biochemical markers were measured in blood serum.

Results: The results of the present study identified the presence of four previously registered variants in FTO gene. These variants might be of interest to FTO gene studies due to their presence in the coding regions that included in the gene expression.

Conclusion: The two variants, 53769662 T/A and 53782363 C/A, may be the most important variables because there are statistical associations with some biochemical markers.