Sarcolemmal Membrane-Associated Protein and Diabetic Retinopathy

Research has suggested that sarcolemmal membrane-associated protein (SLMAP) is a driver in microvascular endothelial diabetic retinopathy, one of the most common microvascular complications in patients with type-2 diabetes mellitus. In a study published in Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome, researchers examined the SLMAP rs17058639C > T gene polymorphism and found that it did appear to be associated with diabetic retinopathy in this population.

SLMAP Genotype Potentially Associated With Diabetic Retinopathy

This case-control study included 100 individuals, 60 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 40 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Within the diabetes group, 40 patients had diabetic retinopathy and 20 patients did not. Researchers used real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect the SLMAP polymorphism.

According to the report, the patients with diabetic retinopathy had significantly increased glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) compared with diabetic patients without retinopathy (P<.001). The authors noted there was no significant difference in frequency of SLMAP rs17058639C > T genotypes between the diabetic groups and the control group, and that the homozygous CC genotype was the most common type in patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Overall, the authors summarized that “diabetic retinopathy is correlated with poor glycemic control, and SLMAP rs17058639C > T polymorphism was associated with microvascular endothelial diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus,” though they did note that larger studies are needed to validate their findings.

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