Objectives To investigate the relationship between SOCS-3 gene polymorphism and abnormal glucose metabolism in Xinjiang Uygur population.

Methods According to different plasma glucose levels, 1232 individual in xinjiang hetian area were divided into 3 groups that is 451 patients with pre-diabetes (PD group), 252 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM group) and 529 healthy people as normal controls (NC group). Based on HapMap we selected the polymorphismrs rs12953258, rs4969168, rs9914220 as haplotypes, tagging SNP (htSNP) sufficiently covering the genetic variation of the whole gene. We therefore examined the association between rs12953258, rs4949168 and rs914220 within SOCS-3 andabnormal glucose metabolism in the Xinjiang Uygur population in three independent study populations; The genotype and allele frequencies and relative clinic data were compared among groups.

Results The T2DM study with 451 individuals showed the thomozygosity for the C allele of rs12953258 polymorphism of SOCS-3 was associated with increased diabetes risk (OR = 1.756, 95%CI (1.168,2.640)). In addition, association between rs4949168, rs914220 and abnormal glucose metabolism in the Xinjiang Uygur population was not found. Age,total cholesterol (CHOL)and BMI were risk factors of DM development, total cholesterol (CHOL)and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C)was risk factors of PD development in Uygur people.

Conclusions The C allele of rs12953258 polymorphism of SOCS-3 gene may be an independent risk factor for abnormal glucose metabolism in Xinjiang Uygur population.