Interactions of TRAF6 and NLRX1 gene polymorphisms with environmental factors on the susceptibility of type 2 diabetes mellitus vascular complications in a southern Han Chinese population

Aims To evaluate the effects of TRAF6 and NLRX1 polymorphisms and their interactions with environmental factors on the susceptibility of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) vascular complications in a southern Han Chinese population. Methods Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped in a case-control study to estimate risk factors of T2DM vascular complications. Gene-gene and gene-environment interactions and haplotype associations were also estimated. Results The CA genotype of the NLRX1 rs4245191 was identified as a risk factor for T2DM macrovascular complications and diabetic cerebral infarction (OR=2.88, 95% CI=1.15–7.22, P =0.024; OR=4.00, 95% CI=1.04–15.38, P =0.043, respectively). A significantly lower T allele frequency in the TRAF6 rs16928973 was observed in T2DM patients with both microvascular and macrovascular complications compared with patients without any complication under the allelic model (T vs. C: OR=0.36, 95% CI=0.14–0.98, P =0.038). No significant differences in haplotypes, gene-gene interactions and gene-environment interactions were observed among T2DM vascular subgroup patients. Conclusions Our study provides evidence that the NLRX1 rs4245191 polymorphisms influence the risk of T2DM macrovascular complications and diabetic cerebral infarction.