Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

OBJECTIVE: FUT2 encodes the α(1,2) fucosyltransferase that determines blood group secretor status. Homozygotes (A/A) for the common nonsense mutation rs601338A>G (W143X) are nonsecretors and are unable to express histo-blood group antigens in secretions and on mucosal surfaces. This mutation has been reported to provide resistance to Norovirus and susceptibility to Crohn’s disease, and hence we aimed to determine if it also affects risk of type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: rs601338A>G was genotyped in 8,344 patients with type 1 diabetes, 10,008 control subjects, and 3,360 type 1 diabetic families. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the case-control collection, and conditional logistic regression was used to analyze the family collection. RESULTS The nonsecretor A/A genotype of rs601338A>G was found to confer susceptibility to type 1 diabetes in both the case-control and family collections (odds ratio for AA 1.29 [95% CI 1.20-1.37] and relative risk for AA 1.22 [95% CI = 1.12-1.32]; combined P = 4.3 × 10(-18)), based on a recessive effects model. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings linking FUT2 and type 1 diabetes highlight the intriguing relationship between host resistance to infections and susceptibility to autoimmune disease.

Original publication

DOI

10.2337/db11-0638

Type

Journal article

Journal

Diabetes

Publication Date

11/2011

Volume

60

Pages

3081 - 3084

Keywords

ABO Blood-Group System, Asia, Bodily Secretions, Case-Control Studies, Codon, Nonsense, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1, Disease Resistance, Europe, Family Health, Female, Fucosyltransferases, Genetic Association Studies, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genetic Variation, Humans, Infection, Isoenzymes, Male, North America