OBJECTIVETo determine the relationships of Met416Val and XbaI polymorphism of muscle glycogen synthase (GYS1) gene and Trg64Arg variant of the beta(3)-adrenergic-receptor (beta(3)-AR) gene with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and its intermediate phenotypes in the Chinese population.

METHODSPolymerase chain reaction-oligonucleotide ligation assay and restriction fragment length polymorphism assay were used to evaluate the GYS1 and beta(3)-AR gene polymorphisms in 102 pairs of case-control Chinese spouses.

RESULTSSubjects with Met416Val variant had a significantly higher 2-hour post-glucose level than subjects without this variant had in diabetic group (P = 0.032). The Met416Val polymorphism of GYS1 gene was not significantly associated with the risk of type 2 DM (adjusted OR = 1.67; 95% CI: 0.73 - 3.81, P = 0.223). Subjects with Trp64Arg variant had a significantly higher serum uric acid level than subjects without this variant had in diabetic group (P = 0.034). The combination of BMI and Arg64 allele carrier of the beta(3)-AR gene increased the diabetic risk over four-fold (adjusted OR = 4.00; 95% CI: 1.53 - 10.45, P = 0.005).

CONCLUSIONSIn the Chinese population, Met416Val polymorphism is identified in a subgroup of diabetic subjects with high 2-hour post-glucose. It will explain why some diabetic patients appear to be genetically predisposed to developing high postpradial glucose level. The presence of the Arg64 allele in the beta(3)-AR gene may predispose patients to higher serum uric acid level.