Accordingly, in T1DM, a GWAS analysis of 19,406 subjects using various definitions of DKD, based on renal function and albuminuria, recognized 16 loci, including protective variants (the rs55703767 minor allele, Asp326Tyr) and a variant (rs55703767), on the collagen type IV alpha 3 chain (COL4A3) gene, with the most significant association with DKD in T1DM patients [185]. Here, COL4A3 is linked to diabetic kidney disease.