Multiple genetic variations confer risks for obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus in arab descendants from UAE.Int J Obes (Lond). 2018;42:1345-1353. [PMID: 29717269 DOI: 10.1038/s41366-018-0057-6]

Prevalence of pre-eclampsia in women in the Middle East: a scoping review

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are the second most common cause of maternal deaths worldwide. Metabolic syndrome is recognized as one of the risk factors for pre-eclampsia. A recent study revealed a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), particularly amongst Emirati women compared with global estimates. This finding raises the possibility that the prevalence of pre-eclampsia in the region may also be higher as research is increasingly demonstrating an association between pre-eclampsia and metabolic syndrome. We therefore conducted this scoping review of the literature to investigate the nature and extent of studies evaluating the prevalence of pre-eclampsia within the Middle East region to enable subsequent comparison of these findings with the global burden of pre-eclampsia, objectively identify gaps in the literature and inform the design of future studies to address these gaps. PubMed and Scopus were used to extract studies published over the last 20 years (2003-2023). The search terms used included ("Pre-eclampsia" AND "Prevalence") OR ("Hypertension in pregnancy" AND "Prevalence") OR ("Pregnancy" AND "Pre-eclampsia") OR ("Pre-eclampsia" AND "Epidemiology"). We limited our studies to those from the Middle East (ME). A total of 556 relevant articles were identified following which 11 were shortlisted for review. There were four studies from Iran, two from Saudi Arabia, two from Qatar, one from Jordan, and one from Bahrain. The remaining study included 29 countries from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East of which data from Jordan, Lebanon, the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and Qatar were included. There were four retrospective, two cross-sectional, and two cohort studies, one prospective study, one meta-analysis, and one descriptive-analytical study. The prevalence of pre-eclampsia in the studies ranged from 0.17 to 5%. We did not find any study investigating the prevalence of pre-eclampsia in the United Arab Emirates. Based on our findings, we conclude that there is a significant scarcity of research in this area, especially within the Middle East, and notably an absence of studies specifically pertaining to the UAE. Consequently, we assert that there is a pressing requirement for additional research to evaluate the prevalence of pre-eclampsia in the region.

A Systematic Review of the Gene-Lifestyle Interactions on Metabolic Disease-Related Outcomes in Arab Populations

The increased prevalence of metabolic diseases in the Arab countries is mainly associated with genetic susceptibility, lifestyle behaviours, such as physical inactivity, and an unhealthy diet. The objective of this review was to investigate and summarise the findings of the gene-lifestyle interaction studies on metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes in Arab populations. Relevant articles were retrieved from a literature search on PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar starting at the earliest indexing date through to January 2024. Articles that reported an interaction between gene variants and diet or physical activity were included and excluded if no interaction was investigated or if they were conducted among a non-Arab population. In total, five articles were included in this review. To date, among three out of twenty-two Arab populations, fourteen interactions have been found between the FTO rs9939609, TCF7L2 rs7903146, MC4R rs17782313, and MTHFR rs1801133 polymorphisms and diet or physical activity on obesity and type 2 diabetes outcomes. The majority of the reported gene-diet/ gene-physical activity interactions (twelve) appeared only once in the review. Consequently, replication, comparisons, and generalisation of the findings are limited due to the sample size, study designs, dietary assessment tools, statistical analysis, and genetic heterogeneity of the studied sample.

Genetic associations vary across the spectrum of fasting serum insulin: results from the European IDEFICS/I.Family children's cohort

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

There is increasing evidence for the existence of shared genetic predictors of metabolic traits and neurodegenerative disease. We previously observed a U-shaped association between fasting insulin in middle-aged women and dementia up to 34 years later. In the present study, we performed genome-wide association (GWA) analyses for fasting serum insulin in European children with a focus on variants associated with the tails of the insulin distribution.

METHODS

Genotyping was successful in 2825 children aged 2-14 years at the time of insulin measurement. Because insulin levels vary during childhood, GWA analyses were based on age- and sex-specific z scores. Five percentile ranks of z-insulin were selected and modelled using logistic regression, i.e. the 15th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 85th percentile ranks (P15-P85). Additive genetic models were adjusted for age, sex, BMI, survey year, survey country and principal components derived from genetic data to account for ethnic heterogeneity. Quantile regression was used to determine whether associations with variants identified by GWA analyses differed across quantiles of log-insulin.

RESULTS

A variant in the SLC28A1 gene (rs2122859) was associated with the 85th percentile rank of the insulin z score (P85, p value=3×10-8). Two variants associated with low z-insulin (P15, p value <5×10-6) were located on the RBFOX1 and SH3RF3 genes. These genes have previously been associated with both metabolic traits and dementia phenotypes. While variants associated with P50 showed stable associations across the insulin spectrum, we found that associations with variants identified through GWA analyses of P15 and P85 varied across quantiles of log-insulin.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

The above results support the notion of a shared genetic architecture for dementia and metabolic traits. Our approach identified genetic variants that were associated with the tails of the insulin spectrum only. Because traditional heritability estimates assume that genetic effects are constant throughout the phenotype distribution, the new findings may have implications for understanding the discrepancy in heritability estimates from GWA and family studies and for the study of U-shaped biomarker-disease associations.

Nutrition Situation Analysis in the UAE: A Review Study

This review study aimed to assess the nutrition situation in the UAE using published data from 2010 to 2022. It highlights the gaps and challenges that prevail in addressing the nutrition-related problems in the UAE and the opportunities that have been overlooked. The available literature indicates that the UAE is burdened with more than one form of nutrition-related problems, including being underweight, being overweight, obesity, micronutrient deficiencies, and nutrition-related chronic diseases. It is clear that data on micronutrient deficiencies, protein-energy malnutrition, obesity, diabetes, and other nutrition-related diseases among the UAE population are extremely scarce. The UAE has a high prevalence of obesity and diabetes; however, limited studies have been conducted to document this nutritional phenomenon. Few examples of published data are available assessing the burden of stunting, wasting, and being underweight among children under five years of age. Despite the importance of protein-energy malnutrition, no recent publications analyze its prevalence within the UAE population. Therefore, future studies must be conducted, focusing on malnutrition. Based on the literature, and bearing in mind the magnitude of the health issues due to the UAE population's nutrition negligence, there is an urgent need to assess the population's nutrient behaviors, to aid policy decision-makers in developing and implementing effective health policies and strategies.

Research for type 2 diabetes mellitus in endemic arsenism areas in central China: role of low level of arsenic exposure and KEAP1 rs11545829 polymorphism

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is one of the major public health problems worldwide; both genetic and environmental factors are its risk factors. Arsenic, an environmental pollutant, might be a risk factor for T2DM, but the association of low-to-moderate level arsenic exposure with the risk of T2DM is still inconsistent. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) can affect the development of T2DM, but the study on KEAP1 rs11545829 (G>A) SNP is few. In this paper, we explored the effect of KEAP1 rs11545829 (G>A) SNP and low-to-moderate level arsenic exposure on risk of T2DM in a cross-sectional case-control study conducted in Shanxi, China. Total of 938 participants, including 318 T2DM cases and 618 controls, were enrolled. Blood glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was detected by Automatic Biochemical Analyzer, and participants with HbA1c≧6.5% were diagnosed as T2DM. Urinary total arsenic (tAs, mg/L), as the indicator of arsenic exposure, was detected by liquid chromatography-atomic fluorescence spectrometry (LC-AFS). Genomic DNA was extracted and the genotypes of KEAP1 rs11545829 SNP were examined by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The urinary tAs concentration in recruited participants was 0.075 (0.03-0.15) mg/L, and was associated with an increased risk of T2DM (OR = 8.45, 95% CI 2.63-27.17); rs11545829 mutation homozygote AA genotype had a protective effect on risk of T2DM (OR = 0.42, 95 % CI 0.25-0.73). Although this protective effect of AA genotype was found in participants with higher urinary tAs level (>0.032 mg/L) (OR = 0.48, 95% CI 0.26-0.86), there was no interaction effect for arsenic exposure and rs11545829 SNP on risk of T2DM. In addition, BMI modified the association between rs11545829 SNP and the risk of T2DM (RERI = -1.11, 95% CI -2.18-0.04). The present study suggest that low-to-moderate level arsenic exposure may be a risk factor, while KEAP1 rs11545829 SNP mutation homozygote AA genotype may be a protective factor for risk of T2DM, especially for T2DM patients with urinary tAs level>0.032 mg/L.

FTO m6A Demethylase in Obesity and Cancer: Implications and Underlying Molecular Mechanisms

Fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) is the first reported RNA N6-methyladenosine (m6A) demethylase in eukaryotic cells. m6A is considered as the most abundant mRNA internal modification, which modulates several cellular processes including alternative splicing, stability, and expression. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within FTO to be associated with obesity, as well as cancer including endometrial cancer, breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and melanoma. Since the initial classification of FTO as an m6A demethylase, various studies started to unravel a connection between FTO’s demethylase activity and the susceptibility to obesity on the molecular level. FTO was found to facilitate adipogenesis, by regulating adipogenic pathways and inducing pre-adipocyte differentiation. FTO has also been investigated in tumorigenesis, where emerging studies suggest m6A and FTO levels are dysregulated in various cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), glioblastoma, cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC), breast cancer, and melanoma. Here we review the molecular bases of m6A in tumorigenesis and adipogenesis while highlighting the controversial role of FTO in obesity. We provide recent findings confirming FTO’s causative link to obesity and discuss novel approaches using RNA demethylase inhibitors as targeted oncotherapies. Our review aims to confirm m6A demethylation as a risk factor in obesity and provoke new research in FTO and human disorders.

Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Associated Risk Factors in the United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Population-Based Study

Aims

To estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its associated risk factors among the United Arab Emirates (UAE) residents.

Methods

A cross-sectional population-based study was conducted among adults living in Sharjah and Northern Emirates using the UAE National Diabetes and Lifestyle Study (UAEDIAB) data. Anthropometric measurements and fasting blood samples were obtained. The National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP/ATP III) guidelines were used to define metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Results

A total of 3,212 subjects (74.1% men, 25.9% women, mean age 39 ± 11.3 years old) were included in this study. The overall prevalence of MetS was 37.4% (32.7% in women and 39% in men). The prevalence was 33.6% in the Emirati population (38.7% in women and 28.8% in men), 34.5% in the Arab non-Emirati population (29.8% in women and 36.3% in men) and 40.7% in the Asian non-Arab population (25.8% in women and 43.1% in men). Age, gender, ethnicity, educational level, marital status and body mass index were positively associated with MetS.

Conclusions

This study indicates a high burden of MetS in the UAE, particularly among Emirati women and Asian non-Arab men. The young adult population in the UAE has a high prevalence of MetS compared to global estimates in the same age group. Aggressive intervention strategies targeting the whole population as well as individuals at a high risk are recommended to prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases.

Genetic Variants and Their Associations to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Complications in the United Arab Emirates

Aim

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is associated with microvascular complications, including diabetic retinopathy (DR), diabetic nephropathy (DNp), and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). In this study, we investigated genetic variations and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with DR, DNp, DPN and their combinations among T2DM patients of Arab origin from the United Arab Emirates, to establish the role of genes in the progression of microvascular diabetes complications.

Methods

A total of 158 Emirati patients with T2DM were recruited in this study. The study population was divided into 8 groups based on the presence of single, dual, or all three complications. SNPs were selected for association analyses through a search of publicly available databases, specifically genome-wide association study (GWAS) catalog, infinome genome interpretation platform, and GWAS Central database. A multivariate logistic regression analysis and association test were performed to evaluate the association between 83 SNPs and DR, DNp, DPN, and their combinations.

Results

Eighty-three SNPs were identified as being associated with T2DM and 18 SNPs had significant associations to one or more diabetes complications. The most strongly significant association for DR was rs3024997 SNP in the VEGFA gene. The top-ranked SNP for DPN was rs4496877 in the NOS3 gene. A trend towards association was detected at rs833068 and rs3024998 in the VEGFA gene with DR and rs743507 and rs1808593 in the NOS3 gene with DNp. For dual complications, the rs833061, rs833068 and rs3024997 in the VEGFA gene and the rs4149263 SNP in the ABCA1 gene were also with borderline association with DR/DNp and DPN/DNp, respectively. Diabetic with all of the complications was significantly associated with rs2230806 in the ABCA1 gene. In addition, the highly associated SNPs rs3024997 of the VEGFA gene and rs4496877 of the NOS3 gene were linked to DR and DPN after adjusting for the effects of other associated markers, respectively.

Conclusions

The present study reports associations of different genetic polymorphisms with microvascular complications and their combinations in Emirati T2DM patients, reporting new associations, and corroborating previous findings. Of interest is that some SNPs/genes were only present if multiple comorbidities were present and not associated with any single complication.

Epidemiology of type 2 diabetes in the Middle East and North Africa: Challenges and call for action

Type 2 diabetes continues to be a serious and highly prevalent public health problem worldwide. In 2019, the highest prevalence of diabetes in the world at 12.2%, with its associated morbidity and mortality, was found in the Middle East and North Africa region. In addition to a genetic predisposition in its population, evidence suggests that obesity, physical inactivity, urbanization, and poor nutritional habits have contributed to the high prevalence of diabetes and prediabetes in the region. These risk factors have also led to an earlier onset of type 2 diabetes among children and adolescents, negatively affecting the productive years of the youth and their quality of life. Furthermore, efforts to control the rising prevalence of diabetes and its complications have been challenged and complicated by the political instability and armed conflict in some countries of the region and the recent coronavirus disease 2019. Broad strategies, coupled with targeted interventions at the regional, national, and community levels are needed to address and curb the spread of this public health crisis.

Genetic polymorphisms associated with obesity in the Arab world: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Obesity, one of the most common chronic health conditions worldwide, is a multifactorial disease caused by complex genetic and environmental interactions. Several association studies have revealed a considerable number of candidate loci for obesity; however, the genotype-phenotype correlations remain unclear. To date, no comprehensive systematic review has been conducted to investigate the genetic risk factors for obesity among Arabs.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to systematically review the genetic polymorphisms that are significantly associated with obesity in Arabs.

METHODS

We searched four literature databases (PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, and Google Scholar) from inception until May 2020 to obtain all reported genetic data related to obesity in Arab populations. Quality assessment and data extraction were performed individually by three investigators.

RESULTS

In total, 59 studies comprising a total of 15,488 cases and 9,760 controls were included in the systematic review. A total of 76 variants located within or near 49 genes were reported to be significantly associated with obesity. Among the 76 variants, two were described as unique to Arabs, as they have not been previously reported in other populations, and 19 were reported to be distinctively associated with obesity in Arabs but not in non-Arab populations.

CONCLUSIONS

There appears to be a unique genetic and clinical susceptibility profile of obesity in Arab patients.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceived Barriers toward Genetic Testing and Pharmacogenomics among Healthcare Workers in the United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Study

In order to successfully translate the scientific models of genetic testing and pharmacogenomics into clinical practice, empowering healthcare workers with the right knowledge and functional understanding on the subject is essential. Limited research in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have assessed healthcare worker stances towards genomics. This study aimed to assess healthcare workers’ knowledge and attitudes on genetic testing. A cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare workers practicing in either public or private hospitals or clinics as pharmacists, nurses, physicians, managers, and allied health. Participants were recruited randomly and via snowball techniques. Surveys were collected between April and September 2019; out of 552 respondents, 63.4% were female, the mean age was 38 (±9.6) years old. The mean knowledge score was 5.2 (±2.3) out of nine, which shows a fair level of knowledge. The scores of respondents of pharmacy were 5.1 (±2.5), medicine 6.0 (±2.0), and nursing 4.8 (±2.1). All participants exhibited a fair knowledge level about genetic testing and pharmacogenomics. Of the respondents, 91.9% showed a positive attitude regarding availability of genetic testing. The top identified barrier to implementation was the cost of testing (62%), followed by lack of training or education and insurance coverage (57.8% and 57.2%, respectively). Building upon the positive attitudes and tackling the barriers and challenges will pave the road for full implementation of genetic testing and pharmacogenomics in the UAE. We recommend empowering healthcare workers by improving needed and tailored competencies related to their area of practice. We strongly urge the stakeholders to streamline and benchmark the workflow, algorithm, and guidelines to standardize the health and electronic system. Lastly, we advocate utilizing technology and electronic decision support as well as the translational report to back up healthcare workers in the UAE.

Association of MC4R (rs17782313) with diabetes and cardiovascular disease in Korean men and women

Background

Diabetes is mostly assessed by the fasting glucose level. Several studies reported that serum fasting glucose levels and cardiovascular disease are associated with MC4R.

Methods

A total of 4294 subjects participated in this study. There were 1810 subjects with cardiovascular disease among the 4294 subjects. We used multivariate linear regression models and multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results

Individuals with the TC/CC genotype had a 1.29-fold higher risk of diabetes than did those with the TT genotype when adjusting for age, sex, and BMI (OR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.04–1.60). For healthy subjects, the association was significant in women (OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.01–3.93). Men with the TC/CC genotype had a 1.21-fold higher risk of cardiovascular disease than did those with the TT genotype when adjusting for age, sex, and BMI (OR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.04–1.41). The relationship between MC4R and cardiovascular disease was stronger in lean men (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.12–1.74, p = 0.0028) than in overweight men.

Conclusions

This study suggests that the rs17782313 SNP in MC4R is related to diabetes and the SNP is also associated with cardiovascular disease in lean men.

Tautomerase Activity-Lacking of the Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Alleviates the Inflammation and Insulin Tolerance in High Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) has multiple intrinsic enzymatic activities of the dopachrome/phenylpyruvate tautomerase and thiol protein oxidoreductase, and plays an important role in the development of obesity as a pro-inflammatory cytokine. However, which enzymatic activity of MIF is responsible for regulating in obesity are still unknown. In the present study, we investigated the roles of the tautomerase of MIF in high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity using MIF tautomerase activity-lacking (MIF^P1G/P1G) mice. Our results showed that the serum MIF and the expression of MIF in adipose tissue were increased in HFD-treated mice compared with normal diet fed mice. The bodyweights were significantly reduced in MIF^P1G/P1G mice compared with WT mice fed with HFD. The sizes of adipocytes were smaller in MIF^P1G/P1G mice compared with WT mice fed with HFD using haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. In addition, the MIF^P1G/P1G mice reduced the macrophage infiltration, seen as the decreases of the expression of inflammatory factors such as F4/80, IL-1β, TNFα, MCP1, and IL-6. The glucose tolerance tests (GTT) and insulin tolerance tests (ITT) assays showed that the glucose tolerance and insulin resistance were markedly improved, and the expressions of IRS and PPARγ were upregulated in adipose tissue from MIF^P1G/P1G mice fed with HFD. Furthermore, we observed that the expressions of Bax, a pro-apoptotic protein, and the cleaved caspase 3-positive cells in white tissues were decreased and the ratio of Bcl2/Bax was increased in MIF^P1G/P1G mice compared with WT mice. Taken together, our results demonstrated that the tautomerase activity-lacking of MIF significantly alleviated the HFD-induced obesity and adipose tissue inflammation, and improved insulin resistance in MIF^P1G/P1G mice.

Genetics of diabetic kidney disease: A follow-up study in the Arab population of the United Arab Emirates

BACKGROUND

Two genome-wide association studies in European and Japanese populations reported on new loci for diabetic kidney disease (DKD), including FTO. In this study, we have replicated these investigations on a cohort of 410 Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients of Arab origin from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

METHODS AND RESULTS

The cohort included 145 diabetic patients diagnosed with DKD and 265 diabetics free of the disease. In general, we were able to confirm the association between the FTO locus and DKD, as reported in the Japanese population. Specifically, there were significant associations with two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), namely rs1421086 (p = .013, OR = 1.52 depending on allele G, 95% CI: 1.09-2.11) and rs17817449 (p = .0088, OR = 1.55 depending on allele C, 95% CI: 1.12-2.14) of the FTO locus. Both SNPs were in linkage disequilibrium with rs56094641, also as reported in the Japanese population. While the alleles of both SNPs, which increase the risk of DKD, were associated with higher Body Mass Index (BMI), their associations with DKD were independent of the BMI effects.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms that FTO is a multiethnic locus for DKD which is independent from any influence of BMI and/or obesity.

Association of genetic polymorphisms of miR-145 gene with telomere length in omethoate-exposed workers

Omethoate, an organophosphorous pesticide, causes a variety of health effects, especially the damage of chromosome DNA. The aim of the study was to assess the correlation between polymorphisms of encoding miRNA genes and telomere length in omethoate-exposure workers. 180 workers with more than 8 years omethoate-exposure and 115 healthy controls were recruited in the study. Genotyping for the selected single nucleotide polymorphisms loci were performed using the flight mass spectrometry. Real-time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR) method was applied to determine the relative telomere length(RTL) in human peripheral blood leukocytes DNA. After adjusting the covariate of affecting RTL, covariance analysis showed that the female was significantly longer than that of the male in control group(P < 0.046). For the miR-145 rs353291 locus, this study showed that RTL of mutation homozygous AG+GG individuals was longer than that of wild homozygous AA in the exposure group (P = 0.039). In the control group, RTL with wild homozygous TT genotype in miR-30a rs2222722 polymorphism locus was longer than that of the mutation homozygous CC genotype (P = 0.038). After multiple linear regression analysis, the independent variables of entering into the model were omethoate-exposure (b = 0.562, P < 0.001), miR-145 rs353291 (AG+GG) (b = 0.205, P = 0.010). The prolongation of relative telomere length in omethoate exposed workers was associated with AG+GG genotypes in rs353291 polymorphism of encoding miR-145 gene.

Genetic polymorphisms associated with type 2 diabetes in the Arab world: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

T2DM reach epidemic levels in the Arab countries. In this study, we aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to underline the susceptibility genetic profile of Arab patients with T2DM that result from SNPs.

METHODS

We searched four literature databases (PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct and Web of Science) through January 2019. We included all SNPs in candidate genes with an OR > 1 that were associated with T2DM among Arab patients with T2DM. Statistical programs such as software Review Manager (Version 5.02) and STATA (Version 15.1) were used. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with a random effects model or a fixed effect model depending on the heterogeneity among studies. I² statistics and Egger's tests were performed to assess heterogeneity and publication bias.

RESULTS

Out of 2245 studies, 47 were used for meta-analysis. We captured 31,307 cases and 26,464 controls in which we collected 71 SNPs in 32 genes. A pooled meta-analysis demonstrated 24-69% increase in T2DM risk. Among the 57 SNPs (in 32 genes) that were not included in the meta-analysis, the OR for diabetes ranged from 1.02 to 5.10, with a median of 1.38 (interquartile range 1.33-2.09). Ten studies examined the association between the TCF7L2 polymorphism rs7903146 and T2DM, leading to an aggregated OR of 1.34 (95%CI 1.27-1.41).

CONCLUSION

The genetic profile that confer susceptibility to T2DM in Arab patients is diverse. This study may serve as a platform for designing a gene panel for testing the susceptibility to T2DM.

How the association between obesity and inflammation may lead to insulin resistance and cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Obesity is associated with metabolic dysfunction and over nutrition. Increased body mass index and obesity are strongly amalgamated with changes in the physiological function of adipose tissue, leading to altered secretion of adipocytokines, inflammatory mediators release as well as chronic inflammation and insulin resistance. The purposes of this study were to review the evidence of how obesity and inflammation may lead to insulin resistance and cancer.

SUMMARY

Recent findings suggested that increased level of inflammatory mediators in obesity, plays an introductory and cabalistic role in the development of different types of inflammatory disorders including type 2 diabetes mellitus. Link between elevated body mass index and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Several of the factors-such as increased levels of leptin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, decreased levels of adiponectin, insulin resistance, chronic inflammation etc. consequently result in carcinogenesis and carcinogenic progression too.

CONCLUSION

This review summarizes how cytokine production in adipose tissue of obese subject creates a chronic inflammatory environment that favors tumor cell motility and invasion to enhance the metastatic potential of tumor cells. High levels of cytokine in the circulation of affected individuals have been associated with a significantly worse outcome. This article also reconnoiters the mechanisms that link obesity to numerous disorders such as inflammation, diabetes, cancers and most specifically combine these processes in a single image. Understanding these mechanisms may assist to understand the consequences of obesity.

Circulating miR-3659 may be a potential biomarker of dyslipidemia in patients with obesity

BACKGROUND

The present study attempted to identify potential key genes and miRNAs of dyslipidemia in obese, and to investigate the possible mechanisms associated with them.

METHODS

The microarray data of GSE66676 were downloaded, including 67 obese samples from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The weighted gene co-expression network (WGCNA) analysis was performed using WGCNA package and grey60 module was considered as the highest correlation. Gene Ontology annotation and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses for this module were performed by clusterProfiler and DOSE package. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was established using Cytoscape software, and significant modules were analyzed using molecular complex detection.

RESULTS

Collagen type I alpha 1 chain gene (COL1A1) had the best significant meaning. After bioinformatic analysis, we identified four miRNAs (hsa-miR-3659, hsa-miR-4658, hsa-miR151a-5p and hsa-miR-151b) which can bind SNPs in 3'UTR in COL1A1. After validation with RT-qPCR, only two miRNAs (hsa-miR-3659 and hsa-miR151a-5p) had statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

The area of 0.806 for miR-3659 and 0.769 for miR-151a-5p under the ROC curve (AUC) may have good diagnostic value for dyslipidemia. Circulating miR-3659 may be a potential biomarker of dyslipidemia in patients with obesity.

A Perception on Genome-Wide Genetic Analysis of Metabolic Traits in Arab Populations

Despite dedicated nation-wide efforts to raise awareness against the harmful effects of fast-food consumption and sedentary lifestyle, the Arab population continues to struggle with an increased risk for metabolic disorders. Unlike the European population, the Arab population lacks well-established genetic risk determinants for metabolic disorders, and the transferability of established risk loci to this population has not been satisfactorily demonstrated. The most recent findings have identified over 240 genetic risk loci (with ~400 independent association signals) for type 2 diabetes, but thus far only 25 risk loci (ADAMTS9, ALX4, BCL11A, CDKAL1, CDKN2A/B, COL8A1, DUSP9, FTO, GCK, GNPDA2, HMG20A, HNF1A, HNF1B, HNF4A, IGF2BP2, JAZF1, KCNJ11, KCNQ1, MC4R, PPARγ, SLC30A8, TCF7L2, TFAP2B, TP53INP1, and WFS1) have been replicated in Arab populations. To our knowledge, large-scale population- or family-based association studies are non-existent in this region. Recently, we conducted genome-wide association studies on Arab individuals from Kuwait to delineate the genetic determinants for quantitative traits associated with anthropometry, lipid profile, insulin resistance, and blood pressure levels. Although these studies led to the identification of novel recessive variants, they failed to reproduce the established loci. However, they provided insights into the genetic architecture of the population, the applicability of genetic models based on recessive mode of inheritance, the presence of genetic signatures of inbreeding due to the practice of consanguinity, and the pleiotropic effects of rare disorders on complex metabolic disorders. This perspective presents analysis strategies and study designs for identifying genetic risk variants associated with diabetes and related traits in Arab populations.

The FTO rs9939609 "A" allele is associated with impaired fasting glucose and insulin resistance in Emirati population

BACKGROUND

Fat mass and obesity-associated protein gene variants have shown diverse influence on body weight and metabolism across different populations. Overweight, obesity and metabolic syndrome are multifactorial major health problems in the UAE and worldwide. Insulin resistance represents the link between overweight and development of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus. We investigated two (FTO) variants in Emirati population, in relation to insulin resistance and different parameters of metabolic syndrome.

METHODS

We recruited 259 Emiratis through the UAE National Diabetes and Lifestyle Project. Ethical approval was obtained. Besides basic data collection, venous blood samples were collected. Fasting blood glucose, Lipid profile, and insulin levels were measured. Genotyping for (FTO) rs9939609 (A>T) and rs9930506 (G>A) were performed using real time-PCR. Insulin resistance were identified using HOMA2-IR calculation; with a cut-off point of 1.4 for female and 1.18 for male subjects.

RESULTS

The study included 259 Emiratis (age range 30-53 years, mean 41.76 years, 54.4% females), 24.5% are diabetic and 30.8% are hypertensive, with body mass index of 28.4 ± 5.9 and 28.7 ± 5.7 kg/m² in female and male subjects, respectively. Homozygous A of rs9939609 showed significantly higher fasting glucose compared to other genotypes (p = 0.04) with a trend of higher insulin level and HOMA-2IR. The A/A diabetic patients (n = 13) showed significantly higher insulin levels compared to other genotypes. G allele of rs9930506 showed a trend of higher fasting glucose and HOMA-2IR, but lower insulin level and HbA1c. No association of genotypes was detected with other components of metabolic syndrome.

CONCLUSION

There is an association of FTO rs9939609 A/A genotype and impaired fasting glucose and insulin resistance. Homozygous A genotype diabetic patients may be more vulnerable to blood glucose fluctuation. Focused genotyping can help the health care providers to identify high risk groups of both normal population and diabetic patients to intervene accordingly.