Interleukin 2 receptor alfa gene polymorphism in type 1 Egyptian diabetics.

Background: Genetic susceptibility has a crucial role in the development of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Several genes were found to be involved; one of the most important genes is interleukin 2 receptor α (IL2RA) gene which was found to be associated with T1DM in several countries. Objective: Investigating the potential association of T1DM, its age of onset, and its complications with IL2RA receptor gene polymorphism in an Egyptian sample of type 1 diabetics. Methodology: A case control study was conducted enrolling 100 cases suffering from T1DM and 100 healthy controls of comparable age and sex. Assessment of random blood sugar, HbA1c, and genetic study of IL2RA rs706778 gene polymorphism were done for all studied subjects. Results: The AA and AG genotypes of IL2AR/CD25 rs706778 were significantly more prevalent among studied diabetics compared to controls. Furthermore, the mutant allele A was significantly more prevalent among diabetics while the G allele was significantly more prevalent among controls. Diabetics with AA genotype had significantly older onset of the disease compared to their peers with AG and GG genotypes. On the other hand, GG genotype was significantly more prevalent among diabetics with delayed puberty. Interestingly, AG genotype was significantly more prevalent among enrolled diabetics with neuropathy, retinopathy, micro albuminuria, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypercholesterolemia compared to studied diabetics without such complications. Conclusion: T1DM was significantly associated with IL2RArs706778 polymorphism in the current study, and it appears to be a risk factor for its age of onset and the development of its complications