Background/aims: We have previously associated SNP 894G>T in the NOS3 gene with diabetic nephropathy (DN) using multi-locus analysis. Variant 894G>T has been widely studied as a DN susceptibility factor with contradictory results. In the present study we genotyped 894G>T in the cohort of prospectively followed type 2 diabetics with the aim to investigate its possible role in the progression of DN and development of morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes.
Methods: 311 subjects with defined stage of DN were enrolled in the study and followed up for a median of 38 months. We considered three end-points: progression of DN, major cardiovascular event and all-cause mortality.
Results: Considering baseline GFR, age at enrolment and diabetes duration as confounders, Cox regression analysis identified 894GT genotype as a risk factor for DN progression (HR = 1.843 [95% CI 1.088 - 3.119], P = 0.023) and 894TT genotype as a risk factor for major cardiovascular event (HR = 2.515 [95% CI 1.060 - 5.965], P = 0.036).
Conclusion: We ascertained the significant effect of the NOS3 894G>T variant on DN progression and occurrence of major cardiovascular event in T2DM subjects. Based on these results NOS3 can be considered a modifier gene for DN.