Blood-based analysis of type-2 diabetes mellitus susceptibility genes identifies specific transcript variants with deregulated expression and association with disease risk

Christodoulou, M.-I., Avgeris, M., Kokkinopoulou, I., Maratou, E., Mitrou, P., Kontos, C. K., Pappas, E., Boutati, E., Scorilas, A. and Fragoulis, E. G. (2019) Blood-based analysis of type-2 diabetes mellitus susceptibility genes identifies specific transcript variants with deregulated expression and association with disease risk. Scientific Reports, 9, 1512. (doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-37856-1) (PMID:30728419) (PMCID:PMC6365563)

Abstract

Despite significant progress by genome-wide association studies, the ability of genetic variants to conduce to the prediction or prognosis of type-2 diabetes (T2D) is weak. Expression analysis of the corresponding genes may suggest possible links between single-nucleotide polymorphisms and T2D phenotype and/or risk. Herein, we investigated the expression patterns of 24 T2D-susceptibility genes, and their individual transcript variants (tv), in peripheral blood of T2D patients and controls (CTs), applying RNA-seq and real-time qPCR methodologies, and explore possible associations with disease features. Our data revealed the deregulation of certain transcripts in T2D patients. Among them, the down-regulation of CAPN10 tv3 was confirmed as an independent predictor for T2D. In patients, increased expression of CDK5 tv2, CDKN2A tv3 or THADA tv5 correlated positively with serum insulin levels, of CDK5 tv1 positively with % HbA1c levels, while in controls, elevated levels of TSPAN8 were associated positively with the presence of T2D family history. Herein, a T2D-specific expression profile of specific transcripts of disease-susceptibility genes is for the first time described in human peripheral blood. Large-scale studies are needed to evaluate the potential of these molecules to serve as disease biomarkers.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: This research was co-funded by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund–ERDF) & Greek national funds through the Operational Program “Competitiveness & Entrepreneurship” of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSFR) - Research Funding Program: SYNERGASIA (COOPERATION) 2011: “UtilizAtion of bioinfoRmatics and microchip Emerging Technologies towArds a nExt generation architectUre health system for diabetes mellitus type 2 management, prevention and perSonalized medical care - ARETAEUS” (#11SYN-10–1821).
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Christodoulou, Dr Maria-Ioanna
• Authors: Christodoulou, M.-I., Avgeris, M., Kokkinopoulou, I., Maratou, E., Mitrou, P., Kontos, C. K., Pappas, E., Boutati, E., Scorilas, A., and Fragoulis, E. G.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
• Journal Name: Scientific Reports
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• ISSN: 2045-2322
• ISSN (Online): 2045-2322
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2019 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Scientific Reports 9(1):1512
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License