Different prevalence of T2DM risk alleles in Roma population in comparison with the majority Czech population

Abstract

Background

The Czech governmental study suggests up to a 25% higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the Roma population than within the majority population. It is not known whether and to what extent these differences have a genetic background.

Methods

To analyze whether the frequencies of the alleles/genotypes of the FTO, TCF7L2, CDKN2A/2B, MAEA, TLE4, IGF2BP2, ARAP1, and KCNJ11 genes differ between the two major ethnic groups in the Czech Republic, we examined them in DNA samples from 302 Roma individuals and 298 Czech individuals.

Results

Compared to the majority population, Roma are more likely to carry risk alleles in the FTO (26% vs. 16% GG homozygotes, p < .01), IGF2BP2 (22% vs. 10% TT homozygotes, p < .0001), ARAP1 (98% vs. 95% of A allele carriers, p < .005), and CDKN2A/2B (81% vs. 66% of TT homozygotes, p < .001) genes; however, less frequently they are carriers of the TCF7L2 risk allele (34% vs. 48% of the T allele p < .0005). Finally, we found significant accumulation of T2DM‐associated alleles between the Roma population in comparison with the majority population (25.4% vs. 15.2% of the carriers of at least 12 risk alleles; p < .0001).

Conclusion

The increased prevalence of T2DM in the Roma population may have a background in different frequencies of the risk alleles of genes associated with T2DM development.

Abstract

The frequency of most T2DM‐associated genotypes differed significantly between the Czech majority population and Roma. Roma subjects have in mean increased numbers of risky alleles. Likely, genes are in background of the increased T2DM incidence in this ethnic group.