Divergent patterns of genic copy number variation in KCNIP1 gene reveal risk locus of type 2 diabetes in Chinese population

Quantitative evaluation of PTPN22 copy number variation by digital droplet PCR and association with type 2 diabetes risk

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic endocrine disorder with rapidly increasing prevalence worldwide. Genetic instability leading to metabolic dysfunction plays an important role in T2D susceptibility and progression. Structural alteration in genome, that is, copy number variation (CNV) is emerging as the inherent marker for disease identification. Previous genomic CNV array revealed that protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 (PTPN22) gene was overlapped with a CNV region, however, whether this CNV affected T2D risk remains to be further elucidated. In this study, we first identified divergent distributions of the PTPN22 copy number (CN) between T2D patients and healthy controls in Chinese population (p < 0.01). Risk assessment analysis revealed that the CN gain (OR = 3.28, p < 0.001) was the promising risk factor for T2D. Also, significantly positive correlations of the PTPN22 CNV with fasting plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin were demonstrated in T2D patients. Statistical association analysis investigated that the T2D individuals carrying CN gain showed higher plasma glucose and lower insulin levels than those carrying CN normal and loss at 60 min/120 min/180 min during an OGTT test. In addition, the PTPN22 CNV had an effect on total cholesterol, and the CN gain presented higher values than the other two CN types. These results suggested that the CN gain types of the PTPN22 gene accompany with the glycometabolism dysregulation, and finally predispose their carriers to T2D; therefore, the PTPN22 CNV may be a promising biomarker for predicting T2D risk, or a clinical target for T2D diagnosis and therapy.

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomics reveals Huangqiliuyi decoction attenuates abnormal metabolism as a novel therapeutic opportunity for type 2 diabetes

Background: As a typical chronic metabolic disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus causes a heavy health-care burden to society. In this study, we applied the metabolomics strategy to explore the potential molecular mechanism of the Huangqiliuyi decoction (HQLYD) for type-2 diabetes (T2D). Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) combined with pattern recognition methods was utilized to select specific metabolites closely associated with HQLYD. Biomarker pathway analysis and biological network were utilized to uncover the therapeutic effect and action mechanism related to HQLYD. A total of twenty-five biomarkers were identified in the animal model, in which sixteen biomarkers are associated with HQLYD treatment for T2D. They attenuated the abnormalities of metabolic pathways such as phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, and the citrate cycle. HQLYD also significantly elevated the serum FINS and SOD, GSP-x level in the liver and kidney, and reduced the serum TC, TG, HDL, LDL, urea, Scr, AST, ALT, FBG, IRS, MDA, and CAT level. We found that the therapeutic mechanism of HQLYD against T2D affected amino acid metabolism, glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism. Metabolomics revealed that the Huangqiliuyi decoction attenuates abnormal metabolism as a novel therapeutic opportunity for type 2 diabetes.