# Expression of long noncoding RNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus: potential biomarkers for disease onset

## TL;DR

This study explores how certain long non-coding RNAs behave in blood cells of type 1 diabetes patients, suggesting they could be early disease markers.

## Contribution

The study identifies specific lncRNAs (MALAT1, MEG3, TUG1) as potential biomarkers for early T1DM diagnosis.

## Key findings

- MALAT1 and TUG1 are upregulated in T1DM patients within the first five years of diagnosis.
- MEG3 is upregulated in newly diagnosed T1DM patients compared to controls.
- TUG1 and MEG3 correlate with glycated hemoglobin levels, suggesting a link to disease severity.

## Abstract

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) do not encode proteins and are transcripts
longer than 200 nucleotides. The precise involvement of lncRNAs in type 1
diabetes mellitus (T1DM) pathogenesis remains unclear. Therefore, this study
aimed to analyze the expressions of five lncRNAs in peripheral blood
mononuclear cells of individuals with T1DM and without DM.

This study comprised 27 patients with T1DM (cases) and 13 individuals without
DM (controls). The case group was divided into two subgroups based on T1DM
duration: < 5 years of diagnosis group and long-term diabetes group
(≥5 years). LncRNA expression was evaluated by qPCR.

MALAT1 and TUG1 were upregulated in
patients within the first five years of diagnosis of T1DM compared to the
other groups. MEG3 was upregulated in the case group of
< 5 years of diagnosis compared to controls. TUG1 and
MALAT1 levels were negatively correlated with the
duration of T1DM, while TUG1 and MEG3 were
positively correlated with glycated hemoglobin levels. Bioinformatics
analysis revealed that MALAT1, MEG3, and
TUG1 regulate and interact with protein-codifying genes
and microRNAs involved in T1DM-related pathways.

Our study revealed MALAT1, MEG3, and TUG1 upregulation in patients within the
first five years of diagnosis of T1DM.