Genetically determined trehalase deficiency in various population groups of Russia and neighboring countries

• Andrey I. Kozlov
• Oleg P. Balanovsky
• Galina G. Vershubskaya
• Igor O. Gorin
• Elena V. Balanovska
• Maria B. Lavryashina

Abstract

Due to the low specificity and sensitivity of non-invasive clinical tests trehalose malabsorption remained out of sight of gastroenterologists. Therefore, the specialists regard this disorder as rare. Trehalose became widely used in the food industry as a harmless sucrose substitute, sweetener and stabilizer. After the discovery of the trehalase gene (rs2276064 TREH), it was found that the A*TREH allele is the determinant of the disaccharide absorption disorders, and the allele’s carriership may be high in some groups. There is not enough information on the A*TREH frequency in the population of Russia.

The aim of the study was to analyze the allele and genotype frequencies of the trehalase gene (rs2276064 TREH) in the main population groups of the Russian Federation and neighboring countries.

Methods. DNA samples from 1146 unrelated subjects belonging to 21 population groups of Russia, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Mongolia were genotyped by the two following methods: 1) using the Infinium iSelect HD Custom Genotyping BeadChip (Illumina, USA) on the iScan platform; 2) by the real time polymer-chain reaction (PCR) method on the Bio-Rad CFX96 Touch amplifier.

Results. It has been found that on the territory of the Russian Federation the frequency of the A*TREH allele increases from the west to the east. The frequencies are lowest in the groups of Russians and Finns of the Northwest (0.01-0.03), up to 0.07 in the populations of Central Russia and the Volga region, and even higher toward the Southern Urals (Bashkirs 0.15), in the Transurals and Southern Siberia (0.19 in the Altai people, 0.30 in the Tuvinians and Mongols). Up to 1% of the population of the European part of the Russian Federation have the AA*TREH genotype (i.e. trehalose intolerance in phenotype), and up to 15% (GA*TREH genotype) have a reduced ability to absorb the disaccharide. In the Asian part of the country (Siberia, Altai, Baikal) the genotypes carriers constitute up to 12 and 46% respectively.

Conclusion. Trehalose malabsorbtion is an underappreciated problem of particular practical importance for regions with high concentrations of indigenous population (Yakutia-Sakha, Buryatia, Tyva, etc.). It would be feasible to consider food labelling of trehalose.

Keywords:trehalose, intolerance, intestinal malabsorption, disaccharide absorption

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