Absence of replication in the French population of the association between beta 2/NEUROD-A45T polymorphism and type 1 diabetes.

BETA 2/NEUROD1 is a key regulator of pancreatic islet morphogenesis and insulin gene transcription. The BETA 2/NEUROD1 gene-locus lies on human chromosome 2q32, in a region previously linked to Type 1 diabetes (IDDM7). Recently, a significant association has been reported between NEUROD1-A45T polymorphism and Type 1 diabetes in the Japanese population. In an attempt to replicate this observation, we performed a case/control study in the French population. We failed to find any association between the A45T polymorphism and the disease-trait. The study therefore suggests that NEUROD1 is unlikely to play a major role in susceptibility to Type 1 diabetes in the French population.