Association of ADIPOR2 With Liver Function Tests in Type 2 Diabetic Subjects

Objective: Adiponectin protects against liver dysfunction in insulin-resistant states such as obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2DM), but the role of adiponectin receptors in this disorder is largely unknown. We studied whether common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ADIPOR1 and ADIPOR2 are associated with liver function tests (LFTs) in human subjects with various degrees of insulin resistance. Methods and Procedures: Serum alanine (ALT) and aspartate (AST) aminotransferases, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), −8503 G/A (rs6666089) and +5843 C/T (rs1342387) SNPs in ADIPOR1, −64,241 T/G (rs1029629) and +33447 C/T (rs1044471) SNPs in ADIPOR2 were assessed in 700 white subjects from a population-based study. Results: In nondiabetic subjects, the at-risk alleles for the common −64,241 T/G and +33447 C/T SNPs in ADIPOR2 were associated with increased circulating adiponectin (P < 0.05 to P < 0.005), but not with LFT. Conversely, in T2DM subjects (who are at risk for liver dysfunction), the same alleles were associated with increased serum ALT and AST (P < 0.05 to P < 0.0001), but not with circulating adiponectin. No significant associations with these parameters were evident for the common −8503 G/A and +5843 C/T SNPs in ADIPOR1. In a replication study, the −64,241 T/G and +33447 C/T SNPs in ADIPOR2 were associated with ALT and AST (P < 0.05 to P < 0.0001) in pooled obese and T2DM subjects. Discussion: Common SNPs in ADIPOR2 are associated with LFT in T2DM subjects, which suggests a possible role of this receptor in liver dysfunction associated with insulin resistance.