Insights into the Impact of Trans-Zeatin Overproduction-Engineered Sinorhizobium meliloti on Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Tolerance to Drought Stress.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria have been shown to enhance plant tolerance to drought stress through various mechanisms. However, there is limited research on improving drought resistance in alfalfa by genetically modifying PGPR to produce increased levels of cytokinins. Herein, we employed synthetic biology approaches to engineer two novel strains of Sinorhizobium meliloti capable of overproducing trans-Zeatin and investigated their potential in enhancing drought tolerance in alfalfa. Our results demonstrate that alfalfa plants inoculated with these engineered S. meliloti strains exhibited reduced wilting and yellowing while maintaining higher relative water content under drought conditions. The engineered S. meliloti-induced tZ activated the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the accumulation of osmolytes. Additionally, the increased endogenous tZ content in plants alleviated the impact of drought stress on the alfalfa photosynthetic rate. However, under nondrought conditions, inoculation with the engineered S. meliloti strains had no significant effect on alfalfa biomass and nodule formation.

A negative feedback loop between TET2 and leptin in adipocyte regulates body weight.

Ten-eleven translocation (TET) 2 is an enzyme that catalyzes DNA demethylation to regulate gene expression by oxidizing 5-methylcytosine to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine, functioning as an essential epigenetic regulator in various biological processes. However, the regulation and function of TET2 in adipocytes during obesity are poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that leptin, a key adipokine in mammalian energy homeostasis regulation, suppresses adipocyte TET2 levels via JAK2-STAT3 signaling. Adipocyte Tet2 deficiency protects against high-fat diet-induced weight gain by reducing leptin levels and further improving leptin sensitivity in obese male mice. By interacting with C/EBPα, adipocyte TET2 increases the hydroxymethylcytosine levels of the leptin gene promoter, thereby promoting leptin gene expression. A decrease in adipose TET2 is associated with obesity-related hyperleptinemia in humans. Inhibition of TET2 suppresses the production of leptin in mature human adipocytes. Our findings support the existence of a negative feedback loop between TET2 and leptin in adipocytes and reveal a compensatory mechanism for the body to counteract the metabolic dysfunction caused by obesity.

Plasma-derived exosomal miRNA profiles associated with type 1 diabetes.

AIMS: Recently, exosomal miRNAs have been shown to play important roles in multiple diseases, including type 1 diabetes (T1D). To assess the biomarker potential of exosomal miRNAs for T1D, we measured the expression profiles of plasma-derived exosomal miRNAs in T1D and explored their potential functions by bioinformatic analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the discovery phase, exosome samples were isolated from plasma by size exclusion chromatography from 10 T1D patients and 10 sex- (p = 0.36), age- (p = 0.97), and body mass index-matched (p = 0.47) healthy control subjects. Exosomal miRNA expression profiles were measured using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 platform. With verification by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), we used multiple bioinformatics approaches to explore the potential biological functions of the identified differentially expressed miRNAs. The diagnostic signature of exosomal miRNAs was evaluated by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and evaluated based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). RESULTS: In total, 43 differentially expressed miRNAs, among which 34 were upregulated and 9 were downregulated, were identified in T1D. After correcting for multiple testing using false discovery rate, 11 identified exosomal miRNAs still showed statistical significance. Among the 5 selected miRNAs, 3 miRNAs (miR-103a-3p, miR-144-5p and miR-454-3p) were successfully validated by qRT-PCR. The biological analysis-enriched terms included protein autophosphorylation and the Hedgehog signalling pathway. The highest AUC of exosomal miRNA was 0.889 under the LASSO model. The expression levels of 5 selected exosomal miRNAs were correlated with multiple clinical characteristics such as fasting C-peptide and postprandial C-peptide. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that plasma-derived exosomal miRNAs could serve as promising diagnostic biomarkers of T1D.

The role of regulated necrosis in diabetes and its complications.

Morphologically, cell death can be divided into apoptosis and necrosis. Apoptosis, which is a type of regulated cell death, is well tolerated by the immune system and is responsible for hemostasis and cellular turnover under physiological conditions. In contrast, necrosis is defined as a form of passive cell death that leads to a dramatic inflammatory response (also referred to as necroinflammation) and causes organ dysfunction under pathological conditions. Recently, a novel form of cell death named regulated necrosis (such as necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis) was discovered. Distinct from apoptosis, regulated necrosis is modulated by multiple internal or external factors, but meanwhile, it results in inflammation and immune response. Accumulating evidence has indicated that regulated necrosis is associated with multiple diseases, including diabetes. Diabetes is characterized by hyperglycemia caused by insulin deficiency and/or insulin resistance, and long-term high glucose leads to various diabetes-related complications. Here, we summarize the mechanisms of necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis, and introduce recent advances in characterizing the associations between these three types of regulated necrosis and diabetes and its complications.

Association of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) footprints with the comorbidity of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

AIMS: This study aims to investigate the interplay between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and major forms of diabetes: type 1 diabetes (T1D), type 2 diabetes (T2D), and latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). METHODS: This multicenter study analyzed a cohort of 2699 diabetic and 7344 non-diabetic subjects who visited medical centers in China from 2014 to 2021. T1D, T2D, LADA, and HCV were diagnosed using standard procedures. High-throughput sequencing was conducted to identify genetic footprints of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles and haplotypes at the DRB1, DQA1, and DQB1 loci. RESULTS: HCV infection was detected in 3 % (23/766) of LADA patients, followed by 1.5 % (15/977) of T2D patients, 1.4 % (13/926) of T1D patients, and 0.5 % (38/7344) of non-diabetic individuals. HCV prevalence was significantly higher in people with diabetes than in non-diabetic individuals (p < 0.01). HLA alleles (DQB1*060101, DQB1*040101) and haplotypes (DRB1*080302-DQA1*010301-DQB1*060101) in LADA patients with HCV revealed higher frequencies than in LADA patients without HCV (adjusted p < 0.03). Furthermore, a higher risk of diabetes complications was found among LADA patients with HCV infection (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: LADA patients are susceptible to HCV infection, potentially associated with certain HLA alleles/haplotypes. Early diagnosis and treatment of HCV infection among people with diabetes are important for the management of severe complications.

Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the glycosyl hydrolase family 1 genes in Medicago sativa revealed their potential roles in response to multiple abiotic stresses.

Glycoside hydrolase family 1 (GH1) ß-glucosidases (BGLUs), are encoded by a large number of genes, which participate in the development and stress response of plants, particularly under biotic and abiotic stresses through the activation of phytohormones. However, there are few studies systematically analyzing stress or hormone-responsive BGLU genes in alfalfa. In this study, a total of 179 BGLU genes of the glycoside hydrolase family 1 were identified in the genome of alfalfa, and then were classified into five distinct clusters. Sequence alignments revealed several conserved and unique motifs among these MsBGLU proteins. Many cis-acting elements related to abiotic stresses and phytohormones were identified in the promoter of some MsBGLUs. Moreover, RNA-seq and RT-qPCR analyses showed that these MsBGLU genes exhibited distinct expression patterns in response to different abiotic stress and hormonal treatments. In summary, this study suggests that MsBGLU genes play crucial roles in response to various abiotic stresses and hormonal responses, and provides candidate genes for stress tolerance breeding in alfalfa.

Association of RPS26 gene polymorphism with different types of diabetes in Chinese individuals.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: Different types of diabetes show distinct genetic characteristics, but the specific genetic susceptibility factors remain unclear. Our study aimed to explore the associations between the ribosomal protein S26 (RPS26) gene rs1131017 polymorphisms and susceptibility to type 1 diabetes mellitus, latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and type 2 diabetes mellitus in the Chinese Han population, and their correlations with clinical features. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Genotyping of the rs1131017 variant was carried out for 1,006 type 1 diabetes mellitus patients, 210 LADA patients, 642 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and 2,099 control individuals. RESULTS: We found that the rs1131017 C allele was a risk locus for both type 1 diabetes mellitus and LADA (odds ratio [OR] 1.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.33-1.69, P < 0.001; OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.04-1.64, P = 0.021, respectively). Nevertheless, this association was not found for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Carrying the C allele genotype was associated with a lower postprandial C-peptide for type 1 diabetes mellitus (OR 1.41, 95% CI 1.11-1.80, P = 0.006) and lower fasting C-peptide for LADA (OR 1.55, 95% CI 1.01-2.38, P = 0.047). Interestingly, a lower GC frequency was noted for LADA than for type 1 diabetes mellitus, regardless of classification based on age at diagnosis, C-peptide or glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody positivity. CONCLUSIONS: The RPS26 polymorphism was associated with susceptibility and clinical characteristics of type 1 diabetes mellitus and LADA in the Chinese population, but was not related to type 2 diabetes mellitus. Thus, it might serve as a novel biomarker for particular types of diabetes.

Hsa_circRNA_405498 and hsa_circRNA_100033 serve as potential biomarkers for differential diagnosis of type 1 diabetes.

PURPOSE: The role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in type 1 diabetes (T1D) is largely unknown. We aimed to identify some circRNAs as differential diagnostic biomarkers for T1D to discriminate patients with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA), and type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS: The circRNA expression profiles were determined by Arraystar human circRNA microarray in T1D compared to controls (n = 6 each). The differentially expressed circRNAs were validated by RT-qPCR using a validation cohort with 20 T1D and 20 controls. The diagnostic performances of the candidate circRNAs and the clinical parameters were assessed using the logistic least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression model in a larger cohort with 457 subjects including patients with T1D, T2D and LADA, and controls. RESULTS: We identified 110 differentially expressed circular transcripts (53 upregulated and 57 downregulated) in T1D patients compared with controls. Further analysis showed that the levels of hsa_circRNA_405498 and hsa_circRNA_100033 were significantly downregulated in T1D compared to controls (both P < 0.05). Moreover, the expression levels of these two circRNAs showed sequential downregulation from controls, patients with T2D, LADA, to T1D (P < 0.05). The area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) plots in logistic LASSO regression model showed high diagnostic accuracy for combination model with the two circRNAs and some clinical parameters in discriminating T1D from LADA (AUC = 0.915), T2D (AUC = 0.993), and controls (AUC = 0.992). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that hsa_circRNA_405498 and hsa_circRNA_100033 are promising novel differential diagnostic biomarkers for T1D.

A 3-Ketoacyl-CoA Synthase 10 (KCS10) Homologue from Alfalfa Enhances Drought Tolerance by Regulating Cuticular Wax Biosynthesis.

Cuticular wax, forming the first line of defense against adverse environmental stresses, comprises very long-chain fatty acids (VLCFAs) and their derivatives. 3-Ketoacyl-CoA synthase (KCS) is a rate-limiting enzyme for VLCFA biosynthesis. In this study, we isolated KCS10, a KCS gene from alfalfa, and analyzed the effect of gene expression on wax production and drought stress in transgenic plants. MsKCS10 overexpression increased compact platelet-like crystal deposition and promoted primary alcohol biosynthesis through acyl reduction pathways in alfalfa leaves. Overexpression of MsKCS10 induced the formation of coiled-rodlet-like crystals and increased n-alkane content through decarbonylation pathways in tobacco and tomato fruits. Overexpression of MsKCS10 enhanced drought tolerance by limiting nonstomatal water loss, improving photosynthesis, and maintaining osmotic potential under drought stress in transgenic tobacco. In summary, MsKCS10 plays an important role in wax biosynthesis, wax crystal morphology, and drought tolerance, although the mechanisms are different among the plant species. MsKCS10 can be targeted in future breeding programs to improve drought tolerance in plants.

Elevated glucose metabolism driving pro-inflammatory response in B cells contributes to the progression of type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the immune system's failure to maintain self-tolerance, resulting in the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells. Although T1D has conventionally been viewed as a T-cell-dominant disease, recent research has emphasized the contribution of B cells in the onset of the disease. However, the mechanism underlying aberrant B cell responses remains unknown. B cell metabolism is a crucial prerequisite for B cell function and the development of adaptive immune responses. Here, we investigated the metabolic features of B cells, first in a cross-sectional cohort and subsequently in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, and revealed that there is an increased frequency of high-glucose-avidity (2-NBDGhigh) B cell population that may contribute to T1D progression. Further characterization of the metabolic, transcriptional and functional phenotype of B cells in NOD mice found that elevated glucose avidity is associated with a greater capacity for co-stimulation, proliferation and inflammatory cytokine production. Mechanistically, elevated Myc signaling orchestrated the glucose metabolism and the pro-inflammatory response of B cells in T1D. In vitro experiments demonstrated that pharmacological inhibition of glucose metabolism using metformin and 2-DG reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine production and B cell proliferation. Moreover, the combination of these inhibitors successfully delayed insulitis development, onset of diabetes, and improved high blood glucose levels in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice model. Taken together, our work has uncovered these high-glucose-avidity B cells as novel adjuvant diagnostic and therapeutic targets for T1D.

Association of the rs1990760, rs3747517, and rs10930046 polymorphisms in the IFIH1 gene with susceptibility to autoimmune diseases: a meta-analysis.

Objective: Interferon induced with helicase C domain 1 (IFIH1) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) rs1990760, rs3747517, and rs10930046 have been shown to be closely related to the risk of autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was firstly to examine the association of the rs1990760 with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in a Chinese population. Secondly, to assess the association of SNP rs1990760, rs3747517, and rs10930046 with autoimmune diseases susceptibility. Methods: A total of 1,273 T1D patients and 1,010 healthy control subjects in a Chinese population were enrolled in this case-control study. Subsequently, we performed a meta-analysis on the association of the SNP rs1990760, rs3747517, and rs10930046 in the IFIH1 gene with susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. The random and fixed genetic effects models were used to evaluate the association and the effect sizes, including odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Stratification analyses based on ethnicity and the type of autoimmune diseases were performed. Results: IFIH1 SNP rs1990760 was not associated with a significant risk of T1D in the Chinese population in the case-control study. A total of 35 studies including 70,966 patients and 124,509 controls were identified and included in the meta-analysis. The results displayed significant associations between IFIH1 rs1990760 A allele and rs3747517 C allele and autoimmune diseases risk (OR=1.09, 95% CI: 1.01~1.17; OR=1.24, 95% CI: 1.15~1.25, respectively). Stratified analysis indicated a significant association rs1990760 and rs3747517 with autoimmune diseases risk in the Caucasian population (OR=1.11, 95% CI: 1.02~1.20, OR=1.29, 95% CI: 1.18~1.41, respectively). Conclusions: This study revealed no association between IFIH1 SNP rs1990760 and T1D in Chinese. Furthermore, the meta-analysis indicated that rs1990760 and rs3747517 polymorphisms, confer susceptibility to autoimmune diseases, especially in the Caucasian population.

Analysis of the safety and effectiveness of TACE combined with targeted immunotherapy in the treatment of intermediate and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma.

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with immune and targeted therapy in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Prospective analysis of 23 patients with intermediate or advanced primary HCC treated at the Department of Hepatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of the University of Science and Technology of China from July 2019, including 11 cases treated with TACE alone and 12 cases treated with TACE combined with targeted therapy. The basal indexes of patients in the two groups were compared, and the response during treatment was observed; regular follow-up was performed to assess the efficacy of tumor treatment. Compared with TACE treatment alone, the objective response rate (ORR) was significantly higher in the TACE combined with targeted treatment group (50.0% vs 36.4%), with a higher success rate of surgical conversion (33.3% vs 18.2%) and a significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) (20.5 ± 2.9 months vs 11.6 ± 2.9 months). Multifactorial regression analysis identified tumor vascular invasion as an independent prognostic factor affecting HCC. No patient experienced catheter retention-related complications during treatment, and there were no intolerable adverse effects. TACE combined with targeted treatment for intermediate to advanced unresectable HCC was effective, with good tumor responsiveness, high surgical conversion rate, and safe and controllable adverse reactions during treatment.

Type 2 Diabetes Family History as a Significant Index on the Clinical Heterogeneity Differentiation in Type 1 Diabetes.

CONTEXT: Family history of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is an important but neglected parameter; however, its role in identifying the heterogeneity and subtypes of type 1 diabetes (T1D) remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effect of family history of T2D on the clinical phenotype of T1D patients and evaluated its value in T1D classification. METHODS: A total of 1410 T1D patients were enrolled in this prospective study. Information on family history of T2D in first-degree relatives (FDRs) was collected by research nurses using a semi-structured questionnaire as previously described. The effect of family history of T2D on clinical characteristics was evaluated in overall and subgroups of T1D patients stratified by islet autoantibodies, onset age, and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genotype. Cluster analysis was performed to identify family history of T2D-related subgroups. RESULTS: A total of 10% (141/1410) of patients had at least 1 FDR diagnosed with T2D. A milder phenotype associated with family history of T2D was present in overall T1D patients, including older onset age (P < .001), higher body mass index (P < .001), higher fasting and postprandial C-peptide levels (all P < .01), lower positive rates of all islet autoantibodies, and susceptible HLA genotypes (all P < .05). Clinical heterogeneity associated with family history of T2D in the T1D subgroup stratified by autoimmunity, age of onset, and HLA genotypes was consistent. Using family history of T2D as a cluster variable, T1D patients were divided into 5 clusters, and patients in the T2D family history cluster displayed a milder phenotype than others. CONCLUSION: Family history of T2D should be considered as an important indicator for precise subclassification of T1D patients based on clinical heterogeneity.

Prevalence, clinical characteristics and HLA genotypes of idiopathic type 1 diabetes: A cross-sectional study.

AIMS: Idiopathic type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a neglected subtype of T1D. Our aim was to investigate the frequency, clinical characteristics, and human leucocyte antigen (HLA) genotypes of idiopathic T1D. METHODS: We enrolled 1205 newly diagnosed T1D patients in our analysis. To exclude monogenic diabetes in autoantibody-negative patients, we utilised a custom monogenic diabetes gene panel. Individuals negative for autoantibodies and subsequently excluded for monogenic diabetes were diagnosed with idiopathic T1D. We collected clinical characteristics, measured islet autoantibodies by radioligand assay and obtained HLA data. RESULTS: After excluding 11 patients with monogenic diabetes, 284 cases were diagnosed with idiopathic T1D, accounting for 23.8% (284/1194) of all newly diagnosed T1D cases. When compared with autoimmune T1D, idiopathic T1D patients showed an older onset age, higher body mass index among adults, lower haemoglobin A1c, higher levels of fasting C-peptide and 2-h postprandial C-peptide, and were likely to have type 2 diabetes (T2D) family history and carry 0 susceptible HLA haplotype (all p < 0.01). A lower proportion of individuals carrying 2 susceptible HLA haplotypes in idiopathic T1D was observed in the adult-onset subgroup (15.7% vs. 38.0% in child-onset subgroup, p < 0.001) and in subgroup with preserved beta-cell function (11.0% vs. 30.1% in subgroup with poor beta-cell function, p < 0.001). Multivariable correlation analyses indicated that being overweight, having T2D family history and lacking susceptible HLA haplotypes were associated with negative autoantibodies. CONCLUSIONS: Idiopathic T1D represents about 1/4 of newly diagnosed T1D, with adult-onset and preserved beta-cell function patients showing lower HLA susceptibility and more insulin resistance.

Association analysis between the TLR9 gene polymorphism rs352140 and type 1 diabetes.

Background: To a great extent, genetic factors contribute to the susceptibility to type 1 diabetes (T1D) development, and by triggering immune imbalance, Toll-like receptor (TLR) 9 is involved in the development of T1D. However, there is a lack of evidence supporting a genetic association between polymorphisms in the TLR9 gene and T1D. Methods: In total, 1513 individuals, including T1D patients (n=738) and healthy control individuals (n=775), from the Han Chinese population were recruited for an association analysis of the rs352140 polymorphism of the TLR9 gene and T1D. rs352140 was genotyped by MassARRAY. The allele and genotype distributions of rs352140 in the T1D and healthy groups and those in different T1D subgroups were analyzed by the chi-squared test and binary logistic regression model. The chi-square test and Kruskal-Wallis H test were performed to explore the association between genotype and phenotype in T1D patients. Results: The allele and genotype distributions of rs352140 were significantly different in T1D patients and healthy control individuals (p=0.019, p=0.035). Specifically, the T allele and TT genotype of rs352140 conferred a higher risk of T1D (OR=1.194, 95% CI=1.029-1.385, p=0.019, OR=1.535, 95% CI=1.108-2.126, p=0.010). The allele and genotype distributions of rs352140 were not significantly different between childhood-onset and adult-onset T1D and between T1D with a single islet autoantibody and T1D with multiple islet autoantibodies (p=0.603, p=0.743). rs352140 was associated with T1D susceptibility according to the recessive and additive models (p=0.015, p=0.019) but was not associated with T1D susceptibility in the dominant and overdominant models (p=0.117, p=0.928). Moreover, genotype-phenotype association analysis showed that the TT genotype of rs352140 was associated with higher fasting C-peptide levels (p=0.017). Conclusion: In the Han Chinese population, the TLR9 polymorphism rs352140 is associated with T1D and is a risk factor for susceptibility to T1D.

Combination therapy with saxagliptin and vitamin D for the preservation of ß-cell function in adult-onset type 1 diabetes: a multi-center, randomized, controlled trial.

Disease modifying therapies aiming to preserve ß-cell function in patients with adult-onset autoimmune type 1 diabetes are lacking. Here, we conducted a multi-centre, randomized, controlled trial to assess the ß-cell preservation effects of saxagliptin alone and saxagliptin combined with vitamin D as adjunctive therapies in adult-onset autoimmune type 1 diabetes. In this 3-arm trial, 301 participants were randomly assigned to a 24-month course of the conventional therapy (metformin with or without insulin) or adjunctive saxagliptin or adjunctive saxagliptin plus vitamin D to the conventional therapy. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline to 24 months in the fasting C-peptide. The secondary endpoints included the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) for C-peptide level in a 2-h mixed-meal tolerance test, glycemic control, total daily insulin use and safety, respectively. The primary endpoint was not achieved in saxagliptin plus vitamin D group (P = 0.18) and saxagliptin group (P = 0.26). However, compared with the conventional therapy, 2-h C-peptide AUC from 24 months to baseline decreased less with saxagliptin plus vitamin D (-276 pmol/L vs. -419 pmol/L; P = 0.01), and not to the same degree with saxagliptin alone (-314 pmol/L; P = 0.14). Notably, for participants with higher glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody (GADA) levels, the decline of ß-cell function was much lower in saxagliptin plus vitamin D group than in the conventional therapy group (P = 0.001). Insulin dose was significantly reduced in both active treatment groups than in the conventional therapy group despite all groups having similar glycemic control. In conclusion, the combination of saxagliptin and vitamin D preserves pancreatic ß-cell function in adult-onset autoimmune type 1 diabetes, an effect especially efficacious in individuals with higher GADA levels. Our results provide evidence for a novel adjunct to insulin and metformin as potential initial treatment for adult-onset type 1 diabetes. (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02407899).

Identification of hsa_circRNA_100632 as a novel molecular biomarker for fulminant type 1 diabetes.

Objective: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are associated with diabetes, but their role in fulminant type 1 diabetes (FT1D) is unclear. Thus, we characterized the role of circRNAs in FT1D. Research design and methods: CircRNA expression profiles were detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of five FT1D patients and five controls using a circRNA microarray. An independent cohort comprised of 40 FT1D cases, 75 type 1 diabetes (T1D) cases, and 115 controls was used to verify the circRNAs using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Spearman's correlation analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed to determine the clinical diagnostic capability of circRNAs. Bioinformatics was used to identify potential biological functions and circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions. Results: There were 13 upregulated and 13 downregulated circRNAs in PBMCs of patients with FT1D. Five circRNAs were further verified in a second cohort. Hsa_circRNA_100632 was significantly upregulated in the FT1D and T1D groups. Hsa_circRNA_100632 was differentiated between patients with FT1D and controls [area under the curve (AUC) 0.846; 95% CI 0.776-0.916; P<0.0001] as well as between patients with FT1D and patients with T1D (AUC 0.726; 95% CI 0.633-0.820; P<0.0001). Bioinformatics analysis showed that hsa_circRNA_100632 may be involved in 47 circRNA-miRNA-mRNA signaling pathways associated with diabetes. Conclusions: CircRNAs were aberrantly expressed in PBMCs of patients with FT1D, and hsa_circRNA_100632 may be a diagnostic marker of FT1D.

Plasma-derived exosomal miRNAs as potentially novel biomarkers for latent autoimmune diabetes in adults.

AIM: To characterize the exosomal miRNA profiles of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) and evaluate the biomarker potential of selected miRNAs to distinguish LADA from type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS: Plasma-derived exosomal miRNA expression profiles were measured in patients with LADA (N = 5) and control subjects (N = 5). Five differentially expressed miRNAs were selected to validate their expression levels and assess their diagnostic potential by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) in a larger cohort. RESULTS: Seventy-five differentially expressed plasma-derived exosomal miRNAs were identified in LADA patients compared to healthy subjects. The expression levels of three exosomal miRNAs (hsa-miR-146a-5p, hsa-miR-223-3p and hsa-miR-21-5p) were significantly different between the LADA group and the T2D group. The three miRNAs exhibited areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of 0.978, 0.96 and 0.809, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study uncovers the miRNA profiles of plasma-derived exosomes from LADA patients and identifies exosomal miRNAs as potential biomarkers to discriminate LADA from T2D for the first time. Our data demonstrate the function of exosomal miRNAs in the development of LADA and contribute to an in-depth understanding of the precise mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of LADA.

Prevalence of maturity-onset diabetes of the young in phenotypic type 2 diabetes in young adults: a nationwide, multi-center, cross-sectional survey in China.

BACKGROUND: Maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is the most common monogenic diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of MODY in phenotypic type 2 diabetes (T2DM) among Chinese young adults. METHODS: From April 2015 to October 2017, this cross-sectional study involved 2429 consecutive patients from 46 hospitals in China, newly diagnosed between 15 years and 45 years, with T2DM phenotype and negative for standardized glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody at the core laboratory. Sequencing using a custom monogenic diabetes gene panel was performed, and variants of 14 MODY genes were interpreted as per current guidelines. RESULTS: The survey determined 18 patients having genetic variants causing MODY (6 HNF1A , 5 GCK , 3 HNF4A , 2 INS , 1 PDX1 , and 1 PAX4 ). The prevalence of MODY was 0.74% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.40-1.08%). The clinical characteristics of MODY patients were not specific, 72.2% (13/18) of them were diagnosed after 35 years, 47.1% (8/17) had metabolic syndrome, and only 38.9% (7/18) had a family history of diabetes. No significant difference in manifestations except for hemoglobin A1c levels was found between MODY and non-MODY patients. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of MODY in young adults with phenotypic T2DM was 0.74%, among which HNF1A -, GCK -, and HNF4A -MODY were the most common subtypes. Clinical features played a limited role in the recognition of MODY.

HLA Class I Association With Autoimmune Diabetes in Chinese People: Distinct Implications in Classic Type 1 Diabetes and LADA.

CONTEXT: We aimed to investigate whether human leukocyte antigen (HLA) Class I loci differentially modulated the risk for and clinical features of Chinese people with classic type 1 diabetes (T1D) and latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). METHODS: In this case-control study, genotypes of HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, -DQA1, and -DQB1 loci were obtained from 1067 cases with classic T1D, 1062 cases with LADA, and 1107 normal controls using next-generation sequencing. RESULTS: Despite 4 alleles shared between classic T1D and LADA (protective: A*02:07 and B*46:01; susceptible: B*54:01 and C*08:01), 7 Class I alleles conferred risk exclusively for classic T1D (A*24:02, B*15:02, B*15:18, B*39:01, B*40:06, B*48:01, and C*07:02) whereas only A*02:01 was an additional risk factor for LADA. Class I alleles affected a wide spectrum of T1D clinical features, including positive rate of protein tyrosine phosphatase autoantibody and zinc transporter 8 autoantibody (A*24:02), C-peptide levels (A*24:02), and age at diagnosis (B*46:01, C*01:02, B*15:02, C*07:02, and C*08:01). By contrast, except for the detrimental effect of C*08:01 on C-peptide concentrations in LADA, no other Class I associations with clinical characteristics of LADA could be reported. The addition of Class I alleles refined the risk model consisting only of DR-DQ data in classic T1D while the overall predictive value of the LADA risk model comprising both Class I and II information was relatively low. CONCLUSION: The attenuated HLA Class I susceptibility to LADA was indicative of a less deleterious immunogenetic nature compared with classic T1D. These autoimmune diabetes-related Class I variants might serve as additional markers in future screening among Chinese people.