Deciphering the Variants Located in the MIR196A2, MIR146A, and MIR423 with Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus in Pakistani Population

RNA therapeutics for treatment of diabetes

Diabetes is an ongoing global problem as it affects health of more than 537 million people around the world. Diabetes leaves many serious complications that affect patients and can cause death if not detected and treated promptly. Some of the complications of diabetes include impaired vascular system, increased risk of stroke, neurological diseases that cause pain and numbness, diseases related to the retina leading to blindness, and other complications affecting kidneys, heart failure, muscle weakness, muscle atrophy. All complications of diabetes seriously affect the health of patients. Recently, gene therapy has emerged as a viable treatment strategy for various diseases. DNA and RNA are among the target molecules that can change the structure and function of proteins and are effective methods of treating diseases, especially genetically inherited diseases. RNA therapeutics has attracted deep interest as it has been approved for application in the treatment of functional system disorders such as spinal muscular atrophy, and muscular dystrophy. In this review, we cover the types of RNA therapies considered for treatment of diabetes. In particular, we delve into the mechanism of action of RNA therapies for diabetes, and studies involving testing of these RNA therapies. Finally, we have highlighted the limitations of the current understanding in the mechanism of action of RNA therapies.

Non-Coding RNAs in Human Health and Diseases

Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are, arguably, the enigma of the RNA transcriptome. Even though there are more annotated ncRNAs (25,967) compared to mRNAs (19,827), we know far less about each of the genes that produce ncRNA, especially in terms of their regulation, molecular functions, and interactions. Further, we are only beginning to understand the role of differential regulation or function of ncRNAs caused by genetic and epigenetic perturbations, such as single nucleotide variants (SNV), deletions, insertions, and histone/DNA modifications. The 22 papers in this Special Issue describe the emerging roles of ncRNAs in neurological, cardiovascular, immune, and hepatic systems, to name a few, as well as in diseases such as cancer, Prader-Willi Syndrome, cardiac arrhythmias, and diabetes. As we begin to understand the function and regulation of this class of RNAs, strategies targeting ncRNAs could lead to improved therapeutic interventions for some conditions.

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 < 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 < 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 < 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.

Potential impact of GCK, MIR-196A-2 and MIR-423 gene abnormalities on the development and progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Asir and Tabuk regions of Saudi Arabia

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia and is associated with serious complications. The risk factors for T2DM include both genetic and lifestyle factors. Genome-wide association studies have indicated the association of genetic variations with many diseases, including T2DM. Glucokinase (GCK) plays a key role in the regulation of insulin release in the pancreas and catalyzes the first step in glycolysis in the liver. Genetic alterations in the GCK gene have been implicated in both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that are involved in the important physiological processes including glucose metabolism. In the present study, the association of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the GCK, MIR-196A-2 and MIR-423 genes with susceptibility to T2DM in patients from two regions of Saudi Arabia were examined, using the tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system. The results showed that the AA genotype and the A allele of GCK rs1799884 were associated with T2DM [odds ratio (OR)=2.25, P=0.032 and OR=1.55, P=0.021, respectively]. Likewise, the CT genotype and T allele of MIR-196A-2 rs11614913 were associated with an increased risk of T2DM (OR=2.36, P=0.0059 and OR=1.74, P=0.023, respectively). In addition, the CA genotype of MIR-423 rs6505162 C>A was found to be linked with T2DM (OR=2.12 and P=0.021). It was concluded in the present research study that gene variations in GCK, MIR-196A-2 and MIR-423 are potentially associated with an increased risk of T2DM. These results, in the future, may help in the identification and stratification of individuals susceptible to T2DM. Future longitudinal studies with larger sample sizes and in different ethnic populations are recommended to validate these findings.