A possible association between the -2518 A>G MCP-1 polymorphism and insulin resistance in school children

OBJECTIVE: Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) has been suggested to be involved in the pathophysiology of insulin resistance (IR); therefore, variants in the MCP-1 gene may contribute to the development of this disease. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship of the -2518 A>G MCP-1 (rs1024611) gene polymorphism with insulin resistance in Mexican children. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed in 174 children, including 117 children without insulin resistance and 57 children with IR, with an age range of 6-11 years. Levels for serum insulin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were determined. The -2518 A>G MCP-1 polymorphism was identified by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Insulin resistance was defined as a HOMA-IR in the upper 75(th) percentile, which was ≥ 2.4 for all children. RESULTS: Genotype frequencies of the rs1024611 polymorphism for the insulin-sensitive group were 17% AA, 48% AG and 35% GG, and the frequency of G allele was 59%, whereas frequencies for the insulin-resistant group were 12% AA, 37% AG and 51% GG, and the frequency of G allele was 69%. The genotype and allele frequencies between groups did not show significant differences. However, the GG genotype was the most frequent in children with IR. The GG genotype was associated with insulin resistance (OR = 2.2, P = 0.03) in a genetic model. CONCLUSION: The -2518 A>G MCP-1 gene polymorphism may be related to the development of insulin resistance in Mexican children.