LACK OF ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE GLY40SER POLYMORPHISM IN THE GLUCAGONRECEPTOR GENE AND NIDDM IN FINLAND

A heterozygous polymorphism changing GGT(40) (Gly) to AGT(40) (Ser) (G ly40Ser) in the glucagon receptor gene was reported to be associated w ith non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). A possible involv ement of this polymorphism in impaired glucose tolerance was also sugg ested in a French population. To replicate this finding we screened 31 1 unrelated NIDDM patients, 101 unrelated individuals with impaired gl ucose tolerance and 306 control subjects for the presence of the Gly40 Ser polymorphism by use of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragm ent length polymorphism in a Finnish population. None of the NIDDM or impaired glucose tolerant patients had this polymorphism. Instead, fou r of the control subjects (1.3%) were heterozygous carriers of the pol ymorphism (NS). The age, body mass index, 2-h blood glucose level, 2-h insulin level, and incremental insulin area of the four subjects with this polymorphism were similar to those of the control subjects homoz ygous for the wild type. Taken together, the data do not support the s uggested involvement of the Gly40Ser polymorphism in impaired glucose tolerance and the hypothesis of an association between NIDDM and the g lucagon receptor gene in this population.