Transcriptional Profiling and Biological Pathway(s) Analysis of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in a Pakistani Population

• Main Authors: Zarish Noreen, Christopher A. Loffredo, Attya Bhatti, Jyothirmai J. Simhadri, Gail Nunlee-Bland, Thomas Nnanabu, Peter John, Jahangir S. Khan, Somiranjan Ghosh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-08-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: type 2 diabetes; Pakistan; gene expression; disease pathways; gene validation; biomarkers
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/16/5866
• ISSN: 1661-7827; 1660-4601

The epidemic of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an important global health concern. Our earlier epidemiological investigation in Pakistan prompted us to conduct a molecular investigation to decipher the differential genetic pathways of this health condition in relation to non-diabetic controls. Our microarray studies of global gene expression were conducted on the Affymetrix platform using Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 Array along with Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (<i>IPA</i>) to associate the affected genes with their canonical pathways. High-throughput qRT-PCR TaqMan Low Density Array (TLDA) was performed to validate the selected differentially expressed genes of our interest, viz., <i>ARNT, LEPR, MYC, RRAD, CYP2D6</i>, TP53, <i>APOC1, APOC2, CYP1B1, SLC2A13,</i> and <i>SLC33A1</i> using a small population validation sample (n = 15 cases and their corresponding matched controls). Overall, our small pilot study revealed a discrete gene expression profile in cases compared to controls. The disease pathways included: <i>Insulin Receptor Signaling</i>, <i>Type II Diabetes Mellitus Signaling, Apoptosis Signaling</i>, <i>Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Signaling</i>, <i>p53 Signaling</i>, <i>Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Signaling</i>, <i>Parkinson’s Signaling, Molecular Mechanism of Cancer,</i> and <i>Cell Cycle G1/S Checkpoint Regulation, GABA Receptor Signaling, Neuroinflammation Signaling Pathway, Dopamine Receptor Signaling, Sirtuin Signaling Pathway</i>, <i>Oxidative Phosphorylation</i>, <i>LXR/RXR Activation</i>, and <i>Mitochondrial Dysfunction,</i> strongly consistent with the evidence from epidemiological studies. These gene fingerprints could lead to the development of biomarkers for the identification of subgroups at high risk for future disease well ahead of time, before the actual disease becomes visible.