The TCF7L2 locus and type I diabetes

Background: TCF7L2 belongs to a subfamily of TCF7-like HMG box-containing transcription factors, and maps to human chromosome 10q25.3. A recent study identified genetic association of type 2 diabetes (T2D) with this gene, correlated with diminished insulin secretion. This study aimed to investigate the possibility of genetic association between TCF7L2 and type 1 diabetes (T1D). Methods: The SNP most significantly associated with T2D, rs7903146, was genotyped in 886 T1D nuclear family trios with ethnic backgrounds of mixed European descent. Results: This study found no T1D association with, and no age-of-onset effect from rs7903146. Conclusion: This study suggests that a T2D mechanism mediated by TCF7L2 does not participate in the etiology of T1D.