2016 ACVIM Forum Research Abstract Program

A total of 49,930 SNPs were available for analysis. After excluding cats with low genotypic rate, 389 control DSH and 192 lean diabetic DSH cats were evaluated. Diabetic cats had a mean (SD) age of 11.62 (3.44) years; 123 (63%) were male, 71 (37%) female. Nondiabetic cats had a mean (SD) age of 14.83 (2.06) years; 216 (54%) were female, 183 (46%) male. Control cats were significantly older than diabetic cats (P < 0.0001; t-test). Five significant SNPs were identified: chrA2.4150731 (P = 1.4 x 10 À7 ); chrUn17.115508 (P = 7 x 10 À7 ); chrUn17.394136 (P = 3 x 10 À7 ); chrUn17.314128 (P = 3 x 10 À7 ) and chrUn17.7283 (P = 9 x 10 À6 ). The first SNP is located within chromosome A2; the others are located within a 0.8 Mb region towards the end of chromosome A3. The SNP in chromosome A2 is located 3 kb upstream of dipeptidyl-peptidase-9 (DPP9), a peptidase similar to DPP-4, involved in incretin inactivation. Within the identified region of chromosome A3, genes of interest include TMEM18 and ACP1; both have been associated with T2DM in humans, most likely causing insulin resistance. This is the first GWAS of DM in cats. A number of significant SNPs have been identified, some of which are located in proximity to genes that have been associated with T2DM in humans; others could be involved in pathophysiology related to DM. Further investigation of these candidate genes is warranted.