Author/Authors :
Nikzamir, A Department of Biochemistry - School of Medicine - Ahwaz Jondi Shapour University of Medical Sciences - Ahwaz, Iran , Nakhjavani, M Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center (EMRC) - Vali-e-Asr Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences - Tehran, Iran , Saffary, R Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center (EMRC) - Vali-e-Asr Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences - Tehran, Iran , Dibai, L Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center (EMRC) - Vali-e-Asr Hospital - Tehran University of Medical Sciences - Tehran, Iran , Golmohammadi, T Department of Biochemistry - School of Medicine - Tehran University of Medical Sciences - Tehran, Iran
Abstract :
It has recently been shown that an insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism exists in the
angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene that can affect the serum ACE level. There are three
genotypes: DD, DI, and II, with the ACE level being highest in DD, intermediate in DI, and lowest in II.
The DD genotype has been reported as a genetic risk factor for diabetes mellitus. In the present
investigation, 170 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 144 control subjects were studied.
The ACE I/D polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) utilizing specific
primers. ACE activity was determined spectrophotometrically. Distribution of ACE gene (I/D)
polymorphism and allele frequencies in patients with T2DM were significantly different from those in
control (P < 0.001); D allele frequency was 51% in T2DM vs. 48% in controls. The level of ACE
activity was significantly higher in the DD genotype (91.1 ± 23.18) than those in ID (60.6 ± 22.8) and
in II genotypes (36.8 ± 6.9). There was a significant difference in genotype distribution between the two
groups (P < 0.001). New normal ranges of serum ACE level were determined for each genotype.
Moreover, we found test sensitivity to be 62.3%. Serum ACE activity was significantly associated with
ACE (I/D) gene polymorphism.
