Ghrelin intronic lncRNAs, lnc-GHRL-3:2 and lnc-GHRL-3:3, as novel biomarkers in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Background

We aim to identify circulating lncRNAs located in the region of the ghrelin (GHRL) gene that play a role in the development of T2DM.

Methods

Bioinformatic tool was used to identify candidates GHRL-lncRNAs. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to compare the expression levels of selected lncRNAs on diabetic patients and non-diabetic controls.

Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the discriminatory power of selected GHRL-lncRNAs.

Results

The bioinformatic analysis predicted three antisense and eight sense-intronic GHRL- lncRNAs. Two differentially expressed GHRL-lncRNAs were detected in diabetic patients. The expression levels of lnc-GHRL-3:2, lnc-GHRL-3:3, and the GHRL mRNA were significantly (p ≤ .0001) lower in the diabetic patients. ROC analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) value was 0.93 for lnc-GHRL-3:2 and 0.90 for lnc-GHRL-3:3.

Conclusion

lnc-GHRL-3:2 and lnc-GHRL-3:3 are novel biomarkers and might play a regulatory role in T2DM pathogenesis.

Keywords:

• Ghrelin gene
• intronic lncRNAs
• type 2 diabetes mellitus
• lnc-GHRL-3:2
• lnc-GHRL-3:3
• gene expression

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Data availability statement

Ghrelin intronic lncRNAs, lnc-GHRL-3:2 and lnc-GHRL-3:3, as novel biomarkers in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

ID: NAPB-2020–0454.R1

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, RA. The data are not publicly available due to the data containing information that could compromise the privacy of research participants.

Additional information

Funding

There has been no financial support for this work.