Context: The six-transmembrane protein of prostate 2 (STAMP2) has been shown to be involved in insulin resistance in animal models, but in humans, its role is far from understood. Our hypothesis was that genetic variation of STAMP2 could be associated with insulin resistance phenotypes such as the metabolic syndrome (MetS) in humans.
Objective: Our objective was to search for associations between STAMP2 polymorphisms and the MetS in humans.
Subjects and methods: Nine single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were tested for associations with the International Diabetes Federation-defined MetS and its constituent parameters in 5212 French Caucasians from the prospective study, Data from an Epidemiological Study on the Insulin Resistance Syndrome (DESIR), with a 9-yr follow-up. Methods included logistic regression and analysis of covariance adjusting for confounding variables and testing for interactions.
Results: None of the SNPs was significantly associated with the prevalence or the incidence of the MetS. The rs12386756 was marginally associated with two parameters of the MetS [triglycerides (P = 0.04) and fasting glucose (P = 0.05)]. An interaction effect between this SNP and fat intake was observed on high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels (P = 0.01) and systolic blood pressure (P = 0.03) that is consistent with an interrelation between STAMP2 and nutrition. Three SNPs were associated with insulin levels, but these SNPs were not associated with other features of the MetS.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that the common polymorphisms of STAMP2 are unlikely to significantly contribute to the risk of the MetS in the general population, but relationships with insulin and interactions with fat intake need to be replicated.