MICA 129 Met-Val polymorphism in type 1 diabetes

• Grant number: 19/18466-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: February 01, 2020
• End date: January 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Carlos de Mattos
• Grantee: Beatriz Varanda Rizzo Teixeira
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto (FAMERP). São José do Rio Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease caused by the destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells, located in the islets of Langerhans, which results in hyperglycemia. People with diabetes are at high risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy, which reduces their quality of life and increases the general mortality and health system costs related to this disease. Genetic and environmental factors are currently known to be involved in the onset of T1D. Polymorphisms in immune response-modulating genes may influence the development and progression of T1D, and studies involving those polymorphisms are recent and scarce. The MICA gene encodes a cell surface protein that is expressed under stress conditions, which acts as a ligand for the activating receptor NKG2D of T³´ lymphocytes, T±² CD8 + lymphocytes and NK cells, promoting cell death. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the MICA-129 Met-Val (rs1051792) polymorphism of the immune response-modulating gene MICA is associated with the development of type 1 diabetes. The results may offer unprecedented data to the Brazilian literature and provide support for further understanding of the development and progression of T1D.