Association of Genetic Polymorphisms in MicroRNAs With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Chinese Population

Evaluation of circulating plasma miR-9, miR-29a, miR-192, and miR-375 as potential biomarkers for predicting prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in Nepali adult population

Circulating plasma miRNAs have emerged as potential early predictors of glucometabolic disorders. However, their biomarker potential remains unvalidated in populations with diverse genetic backgrounds, races, and ethnicities. This study aims to validate the biomarker potential of plasma miR-9, miR-29a, miR-192, and miR-375 for early detection of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Nepali populations that represent distinct genetic backgrounds, races, and ethnicities. A total of 46 adults, categorized into healthy controls (n = 25), prediabetes (n = 9), and T2DM (n = 12) groups, were enrolled. Baseline sociodemographic, anthropometric, and clinical characteristics were collected. Fold change in plasma expression of all four miRNAs was quantified using RT-qPCR against the RNU6B reference gene. Their biomarker potential was determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Multivariate discriminant function and hierarchical cluster analyses were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the miRNA panel in reclassifying study participants who were initially categorized according to their glucose tolerance status. Plasma expression of all four miRNAs was significantly upregulated in T2DM patients compared to normoglycemic controls. Furthermore, the expression of only miR-29a and miR-375 was upregulated in T2DM patients than in prediabetic individuals. Notably, only miR-192 expression was significantly upregulated in prediabetic individuals than in the normoglycemic controls. The miRNA expression profiles had the potential of reclassifying the participants into three original groups with an accuracy of 69.6 %. ROC curve analysis identified miR-192 as the predictor for both prediabetes and T2DM, while miR-9, miR-29a, miR-192, and miR-375 were predictive only for T2DM. The specific set of miRNA combinations significantly improved their predictive accuracy. This study validates the early predictive biomarker potential of plasma miR-9, miR-29a, miR-192, and miR-375 also in the Nepali population and paves the way for future translational studies to validate their utility in clinical laboratories.

Microvesicle-associated and circulating microRNAs in diabetic dyslipidemia: miR-218, miR-132, miR-143, and miR-21, miR-122, miR-155 have biomarker potential

BACKGROUND

Circulating MicroRNAs (miRNAs) carried by microvesicles (MVs) have various physiological and pathological functions by post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression being considered markers for many diseases including diabetes and dyslipidemia. We aimed to identify new common miRNAs both in MVs and plasma that could be predictive biomarkers for diabetic dyslipidemia evolution.

METHODS

For this purpose, plasma from 63 participants in the study (17 type 2 diabetic patients, 17 patients with type 2 diabetes and dyslipidemia, 14 patients with dyslipidemia alone and 15 clinically healthy persons without diabetes or dyslipidemia) was used for the analysis of circulating cytokines, MVs, miRNAs and MV-associated miRNAs.

RESULTS

The results uncovered three miRNAs, miR-218, miR-132 and miR-143, whose expression was found to be significantly up-regulated in both circulating MVs and plasma from diabetic patients with dyslipidemia. These miRNAs showed significant correlations with important plasma markers, representative of this pathology. Thus, MV/plasma miR-218 was negatively correlated with the levels of erythrocyte MVs, plasma miR-132 was positively connected with MV miR-132 and negatively with uric acid and erythrocyte plasma levels, and plasma miR-143 was negatively related with creatinine levels and diastolic blood pressure. Also, three miRNAs common to MV and plasma, namely miR-21, miR-122, and miR-155, were identified to be down-regulated and up-regulated, respectively, in diabetic dyslipidemia. In addition, MV miR-21 was positively linked with cholesterol plasma levels and plasma miR-21 with TNFα plasma levels, MV miR-122 was negatively correlated with LDL-c levels and plasma miR-122 with creatinine and diastolic blood pressure and positively with MV miR-126 levels, MV miR-155 was positively associated with cholesterol and total MV levels and negatively with HDL-c levels, whereas plasma miR-155 was positively correlated with Il-1β plasma levels and total MV levels and negatively with MV miR-223 levels.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, miR-218, miR-132, miR-143, and miR-21, miR-122, miR-155 show potential as biomarkers for diabetic dyslipidemia, but there is a need for more in-depth studies. These findings bring new information regarding the molecular biomarkers specific to diabetic dyslipidemia and could have important implications for the treatment of patients affected by this pathology.

Comprehensive Molecular Evaluation of HNF-1 Alpha, miR-27a, and miR-146 Gene Variants and Their Link with Predisposition and Progression in Type 2 Diabetes Patients

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a metabolic condition induced by insulin resistance and pancreatic beta cell dysfunction. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have biological significance because they regulate processes such as the molecular signaling pathways involved in the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus. The hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 alpha (HNF-1 alpha) is a transcription factor found in hepatocytes and the pancreas. Mutations in the HNF-1 alpha gene were reportedly associated with maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY). The objective of the present study was to examine the associations between MiR-27a, MiR-146, and HNF-1 alpha single-nucleotide variations (SNVs) with T2D risk in the Saudi population.

METHODOLOGY

We evaluated the association of SNVs of miR-27a rs895819 A>G, 146a-rs2910164 C>G, and HNF-1 alpha rs1169288 G>T (I27L) with the risk of T2D in Saudi patients with the Amplification Refractory Mutation System PCR (ARMS-PCR). For the miR-27a SNVs, we used 115 cases (82 males, 33 females) and 117 matched healthy controls (HCs); for the Mir-146 SNVs, we used 103 cases (70 males, 33 females) and 108 matched HCs; and for the HNF-1 alpha, we employed 110 patients (80 males, 30 females) and 110 HCs. The blood biochemistry of the participants was essayed using commercial kits, and the methods of statistical analysis used were the Chi-square test, the Fisher exact test, and a multivariate analysis based on logistic regression, like the odds ratio (OD) and risk ratio (RR), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

The MiR-27a rs895819 AG genotype was linked to increased T2D susceptibility, with OR = 2.01 and p-value = 0.011, and the miR-146 rs2910164 CG genotype and C allele were linked to an elevated risk of T2D, with OR = 2.75, p-value < 0.0016, OR = 1.77, and p-value = 0.004. The results also showed that the GT genotype and T allele of the HNF-1 alpha (rs1169288) G>T is linked to T2D, with OR = 2.18, p-value = 0.0061, and 1.77, p-value = 0.0059.

CONCLUSIONS

The SNVs in miR-27a, miR-146, and HNF-1 alpha can be potential loci for T2D risk. The limitations of this study include the relatively small sample size and the fact that it was a cross-sectional study. To our knowledge, this is the first study to highlight the association between miR-27a, miR-146, and HNF-1 alpha SNVs and the risk of T2D in the Saudi population. Future large-scale case-control studies, as well as studies on the functions of the proteins and protein interaction studies for HNF-1 alpha, are required to verify our findings. Furthermore, these findings can be used for the identification and stratification of at-risk populations via genetic testing for T2D-prevention strategies.

Association of miR-196a2 and miR-27a polymorphisms with gestational diabetes mellitus susceptibility in a Chinese population

Introduction

MiR-196a2 and miR-27a play a key role in the regulation of the insulin signaling pathway. Previous studies have indicated that miR-27a rs895819 and miR-196a2 rs11614913 have a strong association with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), but very few studies have investigated their role in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods

A total of 500 GDM patients and 502 control subjects were enrolled in this study. Using the SNPscan™ genotyping assay, rs11614913 and rs895819 were genotyped. In the data treatment process, the independent sample t test, logistic regression and chi-square test were used to evaluate the differences in genotype, allele, and haplotype distributions and their associations with GDM risk. One-way ANOVA was conducted to determine the differences in genotype and blood glucose level.

Results

There were obvious differences in prepregnancy body mass index (pre-BMI), age, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and parity between GDM and healthy subjects (P &lt; 0.05). After adjusting for the above factors, the miR-27a rs895819 C allele was still associated with an increased risk of GDM (C vs. T: OR=1.245; 95% CI: 1.011-1.533; P = 0.039) and the TT-CC genotype of rs11614913-rs895819 was related to an increased GDM risk (OR=3.989; 95% CI: 1.309-12.16; P = 0.015). In addition, the haplotype T-C had a positive interaction with GDM (OR=1.376; 95% CI: 1.075-1.790; P=0.018), especially in the 18.5 ≤ pre-BMI &lt; 24 group (OR=1.403; 95% CI: 1.026-1.921; P=0.034). Moreover, the blood glucose level of the rs895819 CC genotype was significantly higher than that of the TT and TC genotypes (P &lt; 0.05). The TT-CC genotype of rs11614913-rs895819 showed that the blood glucose level was significantly higher than that of the other genotypes.

Discussion

Our findings suggest that miR-27a rs895819 is associated with increased GDM susceptibility and higher blood glucose levels.

Genetic Variants of MIR27A, MIR196A2 May Impact the Risk for the Onset of Coronary Artery Disease in the Pakistani Population

Genetic variants in microRNA genes have a detrimental effect on miRNA-mediated regulation of gene expression and may contribute to coronary artery disease (CAD). CAD is the primary cause of mortality worldwide. Several environmental, genetic, and epigenetic factors are responsible for CAD susceptibility. The contribution of protein-coding genes is extensively studied. However, the role of microRNA genes in CAD is at infancy. The study is aimed to investigate the impact of rs895819, rs11614913, and rs2168518 variants in MIR27A, MIR196A2, and MIR4513, respectively, in CAD using allele-specific PCR. Results: For variant rs11614913, significant distribution of the genotypes among the cases and controls was determined by co-dominant [χ² = 54.4; p value ≤ 0.0001], dominant (C/C vs. C/T + T/T) [OR = 0.257 (0.133-0.496); p value ≤ 0.0001], recessive (T/T vs. C/T + C/C) [OR = 1.56 (0.677-0.632); p value = 0.398], and additive models [OR = 0.421 (0.262-0.675); p value = 0.0004]. Similarly, a significant association of rs895819 was determined by co-dominant [χ² = 9.669; p value ≤ 0.008], dominant (A/A vs. A/G + G/G) [OR = 0.285 (0.1242-0.6575); p value ≤ 0.0034], recessive (G/G vs. A/G + A/A) [OR = 0.900 (0.3202-3.519); p value = 1.000], and additive models [OR = 0.604 (0.3640-1.002); p value = 0.05] while no significant association of rs2168518 with CAD was found. Conclusion: The variants rs895819 and rs11614913 are the susceptibility factors for CAD.

Clinical Implications of Krüpple-like Transcription Factor KLF-14 and Certain Micro-RNA (miR-27a, miR-196a2, miR-423) Gene Variations as a Risk Factor in the Genetic Predisposition to PCOS

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a disorder with a symptomatic manifestation of an array of metabolic and endocrine impairments. PCOS has a relatively high prevalence rate among young women of reproductive age and is a risk factor for some severe metabolic diseases such as T2DM, insulin insensitivity, and obesity, while the most dominant endocrine malfunction is an excess of testosterone showing hyperandrogenism and hirsutism. MicroRNAs have been implicated as mediators of metabolic diseases including obesity and insulin resistance, as these can regulate multiple cellular pathways such as insulin signaling and adipogenesis. Genome-wide association studies during the last few years have also linked the Krüpple-like family of transcription factors such as KLF14, which contribute in mechanisms of mammalian gene regulation, with certain altered metabolic traits and risk of atherosclerosis and type-2 DM. This study has characterized the biochemical and endocrine parameters in PCOS patients with a comprehensive serum profiling in comparison to healthy controls and further examined the influence of allelic variations for miRNAs 27a (rs895819 A > G), 196a2 (rs11614913 C > T), 423 (rs6505162C > A), and transcription factor KLF14 (rs972283 A > G) gene polymorphism on the risk and susceptibility to PCOS. The experimental protocol included amplification refractory mutation-specific (ARMS)-PCR to detect and determine the presence of these polymorphic variants in the study subjects. The results in this case−control study showed that most of the serum biomarkers, both biochemical and endocrine, that were analyzed in the study demonstrated statistically significant alterations in PCOS patients, including lipids (LDL, HDL, cholesterol), T2DM markers (fasting glucose, free insulin, HOMA-IR), and hormones (FSH, LH, testosterone, and progesterone). The distribution of Krüppel-like factor 14 rs972283 G > A, miR-27a rs895819 A > G, and miR-196a-2 rs11614913 C > T genotypes analyzed within PCOS patients and healthy controls in the considered population was significant (p < 0.05), except for miR-423 rs6505162 C > A genotypes (p > 0.05). The study found that in the codominant model, KLF14-AA was strongly associated with greater PCOS susceptibility (OR 2.35, 95% CI = 1.128 to 4.893, p < 0.022), miR-27a-GA was linked to an enhanced PCOS susceptibility (OR 2.06, 95% CI = 1.165 to 3.650, p < 0.012), and miR-196a-CT was associated with higher PCOS susceptibility (OR 2.06, 95% CI = 1.191 to 3.58, p < 0.009). Moreover, allele A of KLF-14 and allele T of miR-196a2 were strongly associated with PCOS susceptibility in the considered population.

Circulating miRNA as potential biomarkers for diabetes mellitus type 2: should we focus on searching for sex differences?

microRNAs are non-coding molecules, approximately 22 nucleotides in length, that regulate various cellular processes. A growing body of evidence has suggested that their dysregulated expression is involved in the pathogenesis of diverse diseases, including diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2). Early onset of this chronic and complex metabolic disorder is frequently undiagnosed, leading to the development of severe diabetic complications. Notably, DM2 prevalence is rising globally and an increasing number of articles demonstrate that DM2 susceptibility, development, and progression differ between males and females. Therefore, this paper discusses the role of microRNAs as a source of novel diagnostic biomarkers for DM2 and aims to underline the importance of sex disparity in biomarkers research. Taking into account an urgent need for the development of sex-specific diagnostic strategies in DM2, recent results have shown that circulating miRNAs are promising candidates for sex-biased biomarkers.

Micro-RNA Implications in Type-1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Review of Literature

Type-1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is one of the most well-defined and complex metabolic disorders, characterized by hyperglycemia, with a constantly increasing incidence in children and adolescents. While current knowledge regarding the molecules related to the pathogenesis and diagnosis of T1DM is vast, the discovery of new molecules, such as micro ribonucleic acids (micro-RNAs, miRNAs), as well as their interactions with T1DM, has spurred novel prospects in the diagnosis of the disease. This review aims at summarizing current knowledge regarding miRNAs' biosynthesis and action pathways and their role as gene expression regulators in T1DM. MiRNAs follow a complex biosynthesis pathway, including cleaving and transport from nucleus to cytoplasm. After assembly of their final form, they inhibit translation or cause messenger RNA (mRNA) degradation, resulting in the obstruction of protein synthesis. Many studies have reported miRNA involvement in T1DM pathogenesis, mainly through interference with pancreatic b-cell function, insulin production and secretion. They are also found to contribute to β-cell destruction, as they aid in the production of autoreactive agents. Due to their elevated accumulation in various biological specimens, as well as their involvement in T1DM pathogenesis, their role as biomarkers in early preclinical T1DM diagnosis is widely hypothesized, with future studies concerning their diagnostic value deemed a necessity.

Association Analysis of LEP Signaling Pathway with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Chinese Han Population from South China

Objective

This study is aimed at analyzing the relationship between leptin (LEP) signaling pathway and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and at providing support for molecular genetic research on the pathogenesis of T2DM in Chinese Han population.

Methods

A case-control study was designed, including 1092 cases with T2DM and 1092 healthy controls of Chinese Han origin recruited from ten hospitals in Guangdong Province, Southern China. Twenty-three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of 15 genes in LEP signaling pathway were genotyped by SNPscan™ kit. The Pearson chi-square test, Cochran-Armitage trend test, MAX3, and logistic regression were applied to analyze the association between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and T2DM; unconditional logistic regression was used to analyze haplotype in LD block; and SNP set analysis based on logistic kernel machine regression was used to analyze pathway. All statistical analysis was performed by SPSS25.0, R2.14, Haploview4.2, SNPStats, and other statistical software packages.

Results

In association analysis based on SNP, rs2167270 had statistical significance both in the adjusted and unadjusted covariate dominant model and in the unadjusted covariate overdominant model while it had no significant difference in the adjusted covariate overdominant model. Compared to GG genotype, rs2167270 of AG genotype had statistical significance in both the adjusted and unadjusted covariate codominant models. And rs16147 had statistical significance in robust test, stealth model and overdominant model, and adjusting and unadjusting covariate. This study found linkage disequilibrium existed between rs2167270 and rs4731426 of LEP, rs10889502 and rs17127107 of JAK1, rs2970847 and rs6821591 of PPARGC1A, rs249429 and rs3805486 of PRKAA1, rs1342382 and rs6588640 of PRKAA2, rs3766522 and rs6937 of PRKAB2, rs2970847 and rs6821591 of PRKAG2, and rs6436094 and rs645163 of PRKAG3. There was no positive finding with statistical significance from the unconditional logistic regression of the mentioned genes' haplotype of LD block.

Conclusions

LEP signaling pathway association with T2DM remained to be confirmed in Chinese Han population, although rs2167270 and rs16147 were significantly associated with T2DM.