Genetics
CETP variant rs708272 emerges as a candidate screening marker for type 2 diabetes risk in Filipinos, genomic study finds (PLoS One 2024)
Original title: Genomic variants associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus among Filipinos
This case-control genomic study compared 66 unrelated Filipino adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus to 121 without, using a candidate gene approach with correction for multiple testing. Nine significant variants, mostly involved in glucose and energy metabolism, were found to be associated with type 2 diabetes in this population. The CDKAL1 variant rs7766070 conferred the highest risk, while rs7119 in HMG20A and rs708272 in CETP had high risk allele frequencies of 0.77 and 0.66 respectively, making them potentially useful markers for type 2 diabetes screening. The authors note that the data could support development of genetic risk prediction models for diagnosing and preventing type 2 diabetes among Filipinos.
Original abstract
Type 2 diabetes mellitus leads to debilitating complications that affect the quality of life of many Filipinos. Genetic variability contributes to 30% to 70% of T2DM risk. Determining genomic variants related to type 2 diabetes mellitus susceptibility can lead to early detection to prevent complications. However, interethnic variability in risk and genetic susceptibility exists. This study aimed to identify variants associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus among Filipinos using a case-control design frequency matched for age and sex. A comparison was made between 66 unrelated Filipino adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 121 without. Genotyping was done using a candidate gene approach on genetic variants of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications involving allelic association and genotypic association studies with correction for multiple testing. Nine (9) significant variants, mostly involved in glucose and energy metabolism, associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Filipinos were found. Notably, a CDKAL1 variant (rs7766070) confers the highest level of risk while rs7119 (HMG20A) and rs708272 (CETP) have high risk allele frequencies in this population at 0.77 and 0.66, respectively, making them potentially good markers for type 2 diabetes mellitus screening. The data generated can be valuable in developing genetic risk prediction models for type 2 diabetes mellitus to diagnose and prevent the condition among Filipinos.
Summary written by cetpinhibition.org from the published abstract; figures as published. Page updated 19 August 2026. Methods.