Defining the genetic contribution of type 2 diabetes mellitus

• Published in: Journal of Medical Genetics Vol. 38; no. 9; pp. 569 - 578
• Main Authors: van Tilburg, Jonathan, van Haeften, Timon W, Pearson, Peter, Wijmenga, Cisca
• Format: Journal Article Book Review
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.09.2001; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Group
• Subjects: Age; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; candidate gene; Chromosome Mapping - methods; Chromosomes, Human - genetics; Diabetes; diabetes mellitus type 2; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - genetics; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - physiopathology; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Diagnosis; Disease; Disease Models, Animal; Drug therapy; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Exercise; Fasting; Gene expression; Genetic aspects; Genetic disorders; genetic factors; Genetic Linkage - genetics; Genetic Predisposition to Disease - genetics; genome screen; Genomics; Glucose; Homeostasis; Humans; Hypertension; Insulin; Insulin resistance; Liver; Medical sciences; Obesity; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; Plasma; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide - genetics; Population; Review; Rodents; Type 2 diabetes; United Kingdom; Endocrinopathy; Human; Non insulin dependent diabetes; Genetic determinism
• ISSN: 0022-2593; 1468-6244; 1468-6244
• DOI: 10.1136/jmg.38.9.569

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a common multifactorial genetic syndrome, which is determined by several different genes and environmental factors. It now affects 150 million people world wide but its incidence is increasing rapidly because of secondary factors, such as obesity, hypertension, and lack of physical activity. Many studies have been carried out to determine the genetic factors involved in type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this review we look at the different strategies used and discuss the genome wide scans performed so far in more detail. New technologies, such as microarrays, and the discovery of SNPs will lead to a greater understanding of the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus and to better diagnostics, treatment, and eventually prevention.