Research Article

Transcription factor 7-like 2 polymorphisms and diabetic retinopathy: a systematic review

Published: August 07, 2014
Genet. Mol. Res. 13 (3) : 5865-5872 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4238/2014.August.7.1
Cite this Article:
P. Sudchada, K. Scarpace (2014). Transcription factor 7-like 2 polymorphisms and diabetic retinopathy: a systematic review. Genet. Mol. Res. 13(3): 5865-5872. https://doi.org/10.4238/2014.August.7.1
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Abstract

The global prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has increased, as well as complications including diabetic retinopathy. Polymorphisms in transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) have been associated with T2DM, with the strongest association attributed to the single-nucleotide polymorphism rs7903146. In this review, we searched the current literature to determine whether an association exists between TCF7L2 polymorphisms rs7903146 with diabetic retinopathy. A systematic search was performed of EMBASE, PubMed, and Scopus using the following search terms: diabetic, retinopathy, polymorphism, genetic, transcription factor 7-like 2, TCF7L2. A manual search was also performed. There was no language or study design restriction. Three full articles and one abstract were reviewed. All studies were retrospective case-control studies that compared the frequency of the wild-type CC genotype and genotypes with the risk T allele. None of the studies found a statistically significant odds ratio. While the number of studies examined was small, this review suggests that there is no risk of diabetic retinopathy among individuals with the TCF7L2 polymorphisms rs7903146; however, the polymorphism may play a small role in diabetic retinopathy. Future prospective studies and trials involving diverse ethnicities that adjust for confounding variables are required to understand the association between TCF7L2 polymorphisms and diabetic retinopathy.

The global prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has increased, as well as complications including diabetic retinopathy. Polymorphisms in transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) have been associated with T2DM, with the strongest association attributed to the single-nucleotide polymorphism rs7903146. In this review, we searched the current literature to determine whether an association exists between TCF7L2 polymorphisms rs7903146 with diabetic retinopathy. A systematic search was performed of EMBASE, PubMed, and Scopus using the following search terms: diabetic, retinopathy, polymorphism, genetic, transcription factor 7-like 2, TCF7L2. A manual search was also performed. There was no language or study design restriction. Three full articles and one abstract were reviewed. All studies were retrospective case-control studies that compared the frequency of the wild-type CC genotype and genotypes with the risk T allele. None of the studies found a statistically significant odds ratio. While the number of studies examined was small, this review suggests that there is no risk of diabetic retinopathy among individuals with the TCF7L2 polymorphisms rs7903146; however, the polymorphism may play a small role in diabetic retinopathy. Future prospective studies and trials involving diverse ethnicities that adjust for confounding variables are required to understand the association between TCF7L2 polymorphisms and diabetic retinopathy.

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