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World J Diabetes. Aug 15, 2014; 5(4): 493-504
Published online Aug 15, 2014. doi: 10.4239/wjd.v5.i4.493
Genetic polymorphisms of cytokine genes in type 2 diabetes mellitus
Monisha Banerjee, Madhukar Saxena
Monisha Banerjee, Madhukar Saxena, Molecular and Human Genetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226007, India
Author contributions: Both the authors contributed equally to the manuscript.
Supported by Agencies viz Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Department of Science and Technology (DST) and Centre of Excellence (COE), UP Government, India for generous grants to our laboratory for diabetes research
Correspondence to: Monisha Banerjee, Associate Professor, Molecular and Human Genetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, University Road, Lucknow 226007, India. banerjee_monisha30@rediffmail.com
Telephone: +91-983-9500439
Received: November 28, 2013
Revised: May 26, 2014
Accepted: June 14, 2014
Published online: August 15, 2014
Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a combined metabolic disorder which includes hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, stroke and several other complications. Various groups all over the world are relentlessly working out the possible role of a vast number of genes associated with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Inflammation is an important outcome of any kind of imbalance in the body and is therefore an indicator of several diseases, including T2DM. Various ethnic populations around the world show different levels of variations in single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The present review was undertaken to explore the association of cytokine gene polymorphisms with T2DM in populations of different ethnicities. This will lead to the understanding of the role of cytokine genes in T2DM risk and development. Association studies of genotypes of SNPs present in cytokine genes will help to identify risk haplotype(s) for disease susceptibility by developing prognostic markers and alter treatment strategies for T2DM and related complications. This will enable individuals at risk to take prior precautionary measures and avoid or delay the onset of the disease. Future challenges will be to understand the genotypic interactions between SNPs in one cytokine gene or several genes at different loci and study their association with T2DM.

Keywords: Type 2 diabetes, Cytokines, Single nucleotide polymorphisms, Disease susceptibility, Association studies

Core tip: Diabetes is the third most widespread disease after heart disease and cancer. Cytokines are mediators of inflammation, namely interleukins (IL)-1β, -1Ra, -18, -4, -6, -10, tumor necrosis factor-α and adiponectin, which cause immune responses in disease pathogenesis, including type 2 diabetes. In the present study, the association of cytokine gene polymorphisms in different ethnic populations is reviewed. Such single nucleotide polymorphism analyses and association studies in different populations will benefit individuals belonging to a particular group.