Association between diabetic retinopathy and genetic variations in α2β1 integrin, a platelet receptor for collagen

Platelets might be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic microangiopathy. Wide interindividual variations in the density of a platelet collagen receptor (α2β1 integrin or glycoprotein Ia/IIa) are reportedly associated with polymorphism(s) in the gene encoding the α subunit of the receptor, including a Bgl II polymorphism in intron 7. The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between the Bgl II polymorphism and the susceptibility to diabetic microangiopathy. A case-control study comparing 227 patients with type II diabetes mellitus (119 with versus 108 without diabetic retinopathy) as well as 169 nondiabetic subjects demonstrated that genotypes with Bgl II (+) allele had a significant increase in the risk for retinopathy. The odds ratio for Bgl II (+/+) to Bgl II (-/-) was 3.41 (95% CI, 1.49-7.78, P = .0036) when analysis was confined to those with a disease duration of diabetes of 10 years or more. The present study suggests that the presence of a Bg II (+) allele is a genetic risk factor for diabetic retinopathy. (C) 2000 by The American Society of Hematology.