Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1, also known as CCL2) secreted byadipocytes is a member of the CC chemokine family and plays a pivotal role in theinflammatory process. A polymorphism, the -2518 A/G of MCP-1 gene, has beenassociated with type 2 diabetes, type 1 diabetes, parameters of insulin resistance andobesity. Therefore, we investigated the effects of MCP-1 single nucleotidepolymorphisms (SNPs) on the susceptibility to type 2 diabetes or insulin resistance inthe Japanese population. We also assessed the correlation between serum MCP-1concentration and other clinical characteristics in Japanese type 2 diabetic subjects.The serum MCP-1 concentration was significantly correlated with HOMA-IR and thevisceral fat area, but not with BMI. Although there was no association between thisSNP and type 2 diabetes, the -2518A/G polymorphism was associated with the serumMCP-1 concentration. In subgroup analysis, Japanese obese diabetic -2518AA carriershad a higher MCP-1 concentration and increased insulin resistance than obese diabetic-2518G carriers. These data indicated that the MCP-1 polymorphism was associatedwith insulin resistance in Japanese obese diabetic subjects and that MCP-1 wasimplicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance, especially associated with obesity,in humans
