AIM:To investigate the association between NF-E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)gene polymorphism and diabetic retinopathy(DR)in the Han descent population of Shaanxi province.

METHODS: Totally 386 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)who hospitalized in our hospital from January 2016 to January 2017 were recruited to participate in the study, they were divided into diabetic without retinopathy(DWR)group(181 cases), proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR)group(62 cases)and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR)group(143 cses). Meanwhile, 120 healthy volunteers without DR were recruited to participate in the study as the control group. Genotype was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism combined with DNA direct sequencing technique for the polymorphism of the Nrf2 gene.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference of genotype and allele distribution of rs6721961 polymorphism between the DWR group and control group, neither PDR group and NPDR group(P>0.05). PDR group and NPDR group were compared with control group and DWR group respectively, the genotype and allele distribution of Nrf2 polymorphism were significantly different(P<0.05). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that A allele(OR=1.532, 95%CI 1.169-2.008, P=0.014)distribution of rs6721961 polymorphism were associated with risk of DR.

CONCLUSION: Polymorphism of the Nrf2 gene may associate with the risk of DR.