Abstract

Background: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is best known for regulating bone remodeling, vascular calcification, apoptosis, and immune responses. Recent studies also suggest that OPG may play an important role in diabetic microvascular complications such as diabetic retinopathy (DR). Objectives: The aim of our cross-sectional case–control study was to assess the relationship between the OPG variants (rs2073618 and rs3134069) and DR in a large cohort of subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods: A total of 1554 subjects with T2DM were enrolled in this cross-sectional case–control study: 577 with DR and 977 without DR. Genotyping was performed using StepOne Real-Time PCR with TaqMan genotyping assays. Results: Our data indicated that the prevalence of the C minor allele was significantly higher among patients with DR and type 2 diabetes in both polymorphisms. Furthermore, individuals carrying the CC genotype of the rs2073618 had a 1.42-fold increased likelihood of DR, while carriers of the CC or CA genotypes of the rs3134069 exhibited a 1.55-fold higher likelihood of DR. Conclusions: Taken together with existing evidence, these results suggest that OPG polymorphisms may be involved in the development of DR.

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