Objective:To investigate the relationships between Leu72Met polymorphism ofpreproghrelin gene and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)in Han ethnics ofGuangzhou.Methods:We conducted a case-control study using 95 non-T2DM healthy individuals as controls (the control group)and 102 individuals diagnosed with T2DM as patients(the T2DM group)from populations of Han ethnics in Guangzhou

in order to detect genotypes of Leu72Met polymorphism of preproghrelin gene within each group

and to compare the differ-ences of genotypic and allelic frequencies between the two groups.Various molecular biology techniques were employed in the study in-cluding target gene segments amplification using the polymerase chain reaction(PCR).After amplification

digestions of PCR products were carried out using restriction enzyme BseNⅠand fragments obtained were detected using Native-PAGE in conjunction with a highly sensitive silver stain method.Results:In the healthy control group

the genotypes CC and AC were detected in 68 and 27 individuals

re-spectively

while no genotype AA was detected in this group.Their corresponding genotypic frequencies were 0.716

0.284

and 0

re-spectively.In the T2DM group

the genotypes CC

AC

and AA were detected in 71

25

and 6 cases

respectively.Their corresponding genotypic frequencies were 0.696

0.245

and 0.059

respectively.Allele frequencies detected were in equilibrium with the Hardy-Wein-berg equation.However

there were no significant differences between the control group and the T2DM group in terms of genotypic and al-lelic frequencies.Conclusion:There are no significant relationships between Leu72Met polymorphism of preproghrelin gene and T2DM in Han ethnics of Guangzhou.However

genotype AA was detected in the T2DM group but not in control

which suggested that allele A may play certain roles in T2DM development.Further investigations certainly would be worth pursuing.