BACKGROUND
Many epidemiologic and family studies indicated stronger influence of genetic factors in NiDDM compared to IDDM, and there has been investigations to identify the susceptibility genes but without definite results. Insulin gene with its regulator region has been considered as a possible candidate gene of NIDDM because of relative deficiency in insulin secretion. So, we investigated the possible relationship between insulin gene polymorphisms and NIDDM in Korean. METHODS: we investigated -23 Hph I and +1,127 Pst I restriction site on insulin gene region in 67 NIDDM patients and 33 healthy controls by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) method, and compared the allelic frequencies. We also compared the insulin secretory capacity, degree of blood glucose control, and family history of diabetes mellitus according to insulin gene polymorphism. RESULTS: l. Insulin gene polymorphism on -23 Hph I restriction site or +1,127 Pst I restrietion site does not confer susceptibility to NIDDM in Korea, 2. No differences were observed in onset age, family history of diabetes mellitus, insulin secretory capacity, and degree of blood glucose control, according to insulin gene polymorphism. CONCLUSION: Insulin gene polymorphism on Hph I site and Pst I site probably does not play an important role in the pathogenesis of NIDDM in Korean population.