The C Allele of rs2073618 and rs3134069 of the osteoprotegerin gene is associated with diabetic retinopathy in Slovenian patients with type 2 diabetes

Stare, Stella (author), Šuligoj, Ema (author), Bešić, Melina (author), Letonja, Jernej (author), Globočnik Petrovič, Mojca (author), Cilenšek, Ines (author), Petrovič, Danijel (author)

Background: Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is best known for regulating bone remodeling, vascular calcification, apoptosis, and immune responses. Recent studies also suggest that OPG may play an important role in diabetic microvascular complications such as diabetic retinopathy (DR). Objectives: The aim of our cross-sectional case–control study was to assess the relationship between the OPG variants (rs2073618 and rs3134069) and DR in a large cohort of subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods: A total of 1554 subjects with T2DM were enrolled in this cross-sectional case–control study: 577 with DR and 977 without DR. Genotyping was performed using StepOne Real-Time PCR with TaqMan genotyping assays. Results: Our data indicated that the prevalence of the C minor allele was significantly higher among patients with DR and type 2 diabetes in both polymorphisms. Furthermore, individuals carrying the CC genotype of the rs2073618 had a 1.42-fold increased likelihood of DR, while carriers of the CC or CA genotypes of the rs3134069 exhibited a 1.55-fold higher likelihood of DR. Conclusions: Taken together with existing evidence, these results suggest that OPG polymorphisms may be involved in the development of DR.

• Language: English
• Keywords: diabetic retinopathy, genetic association study, osteoprotegerin, genetic polymorphism, rs3134069, rs2073618
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: MF - Faculty of Medicine
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 10 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 7, iss. 7, art. 135
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-184915
• UDC: 616.379
• ISSN on article: 2673-4540
• DOI: 10.3390/diabetology7070135
• COBISS.SI-ID: 285109507
• Publication date in RUL: 17.07.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Diabetology
• Shortened title: Diabetology
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2673-4540
• COBISS.SI-ID: 112276483

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: diabetična retinopatija, genetska asociacijska študija, osteoprotegerin, genetski polimorfizem

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P3-0326
• Name: Ginekologija in reprodukcija: Genomika za personalizirano medicino