Genes Within the Major Histocompatibility Complex Predict NIDDM in African-American Women in Alabama
- Ronald T Acton, PHD,
- Jeffrey M Roseman, MD, PHD, MPH,
- David S H Bell, MD,
- Robert L Goldenberg, MD,
- Mei-Ling Tseng, PHD,
- Chotip Vanichanan, MD,
- Leigh A Harman, PHD and
- Rodney C P Go, PHD
- Departments of Microbiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, Alabama
- Departments of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, Alabama
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, Alabama
- Departments of Epidemiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham Birmingham, Alabama
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to Ronald T. Acton, Ph.D, 1808 7th Ave. S., DERB 802, Birmingham, AL 35233.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that genes within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are associated with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and, subsequently, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) in African-American women.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS African-American women who presented with GDM were compared with pregnant African-American control subjects. Following pregnancy, GDM patients were assessed at various intervals of time (median = 6 years) to determine whether they had developed diabetes.
RESULTS GDM patients who required insulin during pregnancy possessed a significantly higher frequency of A33, DR2, DR9, and BF-S phenotypes than control subjects. GDM patients who subsequently developed NIDDM had a significantly higher frequency of B41, DR2, and BF-S and a lower frequency of DR1 and DR6 phenotypes than control subjects. Even after controlling for age and body mass index, B41 and DR2 were independent predictors of developing insulin-requiring GDM and NIDDM in GDM subjects.
CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that either one or more genes within the MHC are involved in the etiology of NIDDM.
- Received January 25, 1994.
- Revision received July 7, 1994.
- Accepted July 7, 1994.
- Copyright © 1994 by the American Diabetes Association
