RELATIONSHIP OF LDLR GENE POLYMORPHISM AND NIDDM IN CHINESE

Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood lymphocytes of 105 hea lthy and 75 NIDDM Chinese subjects, The fragment located in exon 13 of the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene was amplified by pol ymerase chain reaction (PCR), and digested with restriction enzyme Hin cII, LDL, TC and TG levels were measured in all subjects, investigatio ns were conducted to explore the correlation between the HincII RFLP o f LDLR gene aned NIDDM in the Chinese population. The results showed t hat no significant correlation existed between this RFLP locus and NID DM. Marked differences were found, however, between the genotype distr ibution of low LDL level subgroups of NIDDM patients and normal contro ls. It was inferred that the H1 allele might be associated with high b lood cholesterol levels, and the H2 allele with low cholesterol levels . Disturbances of lipid metabolism occur frequently in diabetes mellit us. This study suggested that differences in LDLR genotypes may affect the phenotypes of lipid metabolism.