Objective: To investigate the association between the polymorphism of HLA-DQA1 alleles and type 2 diabetes in Yi nationality of Yunnan.
Methods: Polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) genotyping method was conducted in 58 ethnic Yi patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 82 ethnically matched controls from Chuxiong of Yunnan. Then a study was made on the association between the polymorphism of HLA-DQA1 alleles and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Results: The frequency of HLA-DQA1*0301 allele in the patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus was significantly higher than that in the healthy controls (P=0.002, RR=3.097), and the frequency of HLA-DQA1*0601 in the patients was significantly lower (P=0.025, RR=0.429).
Conclusion: In Yi nationality of Yunnan, HLA-DQA1*0301 allele may be a susceptible gene and the HLA-DQA1*0601 allele may protect individuals from the risk of diabetes mellitus.