Possible role of TCF7L2 in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACTWith people's changing life style and dietary habits, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has become much more serious than ever before. T2DM is a polygenic metabolic disorder, resulting from the interaction of genetic and various environmental factors. Among all the T2DM related genes, the transcription factor 7 like 2 (TCF7L2) gene is one of the most relevant risk-related genes for T2DM. However, the role of TCF7L2 in T2DM pathogenesis has not yet been interpreted thoroughly. Based on the experimental studies in recent years, this review discusses several possible mechanisms of T2DM pathogenesis induced by TCF7L2.