The type 1 diabetes protective HLA DQB1*0602 allele is less frequent in gestational diabetes mellitus

Diabetologia. 2009 Jul;52(7):1339-42. doi: 10.1007/s00125-009-1351-6. Epub 2009 Apr 4.

Abstract

Aims/hypothesis: We tested whether gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with HLA-DQ genotypes.

Methods: A total of 764 mothers with non-autoimmune (GAD65, insulinoma-associated protein 2 [IA-2] and insulin autoantibody-negative) GDM were ascertained between September 2000 and August 2004 in the population-based Diabetes Prediction in Skåne (DiPiS) study. HLA-DQB1 genotypes were determined in these mothers and in 1191 randomly selected non-diabetic control mothers also negative for islet autoantibodies. The data were analysed in relation to maternal age, country of birth, number of pregnancies/siblings and pregnancy weight gain.

Results: The frequency of type 1 diabetes high-risk HLA-DQ alleles (DQB1*0201, DQB1*0302) did not differ between GDM mothers and controls. In contrast, the low-risk DQB1*0602 allele was less prevalent (OR 0.64, 95% CI = 0.51-0.80, p = 0.0006) in GDM than in control mothers. The difference in DQB1*0602 frequency between GDM mothers and controls remained after multiple logistic regression analysis correcting for maternal age, country of birth, number of pregnancies/siblings and weight gain during pregnancy (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.51-0.88, p = 0.009).

Conclusions/interpretation: The negative association between mothers who have non-autoimmune GDM and HLA-DQ*0602 suggest that this allele may protect not only from type 1 diabetes but also from GDM.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / epidemiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / genetics*
  • Diabetes, Gestational / epidemiology
  • Diabetes, Gestational / genetics*
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / epidemiology
  • Genotype
  • HLA-DQ Antigens / genetics*
  • HLA-DQ beta-Chains
  • Humans
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / genetics*
  • Pregnancy
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • HLA-DQ Antigens
  • HLA-DQ beta-Chains
  • HLA-DQB1 antigen
  • Membrane Glycoproteins