The Association of UCP2-866 G/A Genotype with Autoimmune Hypothyroidism in the Southwestern Saudi Arabia Population

INTRODUCTION: Autoimmune hypothyroidism (AHT) is a widespread disease that disproportionately affects women over men. It is characterized by the presence of autoantibodies that lead to the dysfunction of the thyroid gland. The exact cause of this process is unknown; however, some factors, such as genetic factors, may be to blame. The uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) gene encodes uncoupling protein 2, which has been linked to several pathogeneses; however, the link between UCP2-866 G/A polymorphism and AHT has yet to be investigated. Thus, we investigate the potential relationship between UCP2-866 G/A polymorphism and AHT. METHODS: A total of 158 subjects participated in this study, they were either control or AHT patient, and genotyping was performed using a polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The frequencies of UCP2-866 G/G, G/A, and A/A in the control subject were 34%, 51%, and 15%, respectively, whereas these frequencies in the AHT were 43%, 46%, and 10%. CONCLUSION: The study concludes a significant relationship between UCP2-866 G/A polymorphism and AHT, with a carrier subject of the –866 A allele being 3 times more likely to suffer from AHT than wild-type carriers in the study population.