Identification of novel differentially expressed genes in type 1 diabetes mellitus complications using transcriptomic profiling of UAE patients: a multicenter study.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder that mainly affects children and young adults. It is associated with debilitating and long-life complications. Therefore, understanding the factors that lead to the onset and development of these complications is crucial. To our knowledge this is the first study that attempts to identify the common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in T1DM complications using whole transcriptomic profiling in United Arab Emirates (UAE) patients. The present multicenter study was conducted in different hospitals in UAE including University Hospital Sharjah, Dubai Hospital and Rashid Hospital. A total of fifty-eight Emirati participants aged above 18 years and with a BMI < 25 kg/m2 were recruited and forty-five of these participants had a confirmed diagnosis of T1DM. Five groups of complications associated with the latter were identified including hyperlipidemia, neuropathy, ketoacidosis, hypothyroidism and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). A comprehensive whole transcriptomic analysis using NGS was conducted. The outcomes of the study revealed the common DEGs between T1DM without complications and T1DM with different complications. The results revealed seven common candidate DEGs, SPINK9, TRDN, PVRL4, MYO3A, PDLIM1, KIAA1614 and GRP were upregulated in T1DM complications with significant increase in expression of SPINK9 (Fold change: 5.28, 3.79, 5.20, 3.79, 5.20) and MYO3A (Fold change: 4.14, 6.11, 2.60, 4.33, 4.49) in hyperlipidemia, neuropathy, ketoacidosis, hypothyroidism and PCOS, respectively. In addition, functional pathways of ion transport, mineral absorption and cytosolic calcium concentration were involved in regulation of candidate upregulated genes related to neuropathy, ketoacidosis and PCOS, respectively. The findings of this study represent a novel reference warranting further studies to shed light on the causative genetic factors that are involved in the onset and development of T1DM complications.

Inflammatory Biomarkers Levels in T2DM Emirati Patients with Diabetic Neuropathy.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have suggested the involvement of chronic low-grade inflammation in the pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathy (DNP). However, none of these studies have examined the levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients with confirmed diagnosis of neuropathy. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the levels of MCP-1 along with IL-6, IL-8 and TGF-ß in patients with T2DM and confirmed neuropathy and identify correlations, if any, between MCP-1 and other parameters. METHODS: A single center cross-sectional clinical study was conducted at University Hospital Sharjah (UHS) and University of Sharjah. One hundred and two patients with T2DM were recruited from diabetes clinics at UHS and were stratified into different groups based on diagnosis of DNP and other parameters. Several analyses were conducted to evaluate and compare the levels of MCP-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TGF-ß across these groups of patients and identify correlations, if any, between MCP-1 and other variables. RESULTS: A significant increase was found in the levels of MCP-1 in T2DM patients with DNP compared to the patients without DNP (p=0.002, p-adj=0.007). Further analysis has shown that levels of IL-8 (p=0.008) and TGF-ß (p=0.06) were increased and decreased, respectively, in patients with DNP compared to patients without DNP. Moreover, strong correlations were found between MCP-1, IL-8 and TGF-ß levels. CONCLUSION: The key finding of the present study is the significant elevation in levels of MCP-1 in T2DM patients with DNP compared to the patients without DNP and IL-8 and TGF-ß were strong predictors of MCP-1 increased levels.