Frontiers in Endocrinology (Feb 2023)

A long non-coding RNA that harbors a SNP associated with type 2 diabetes regulates the expression of TGM2 gene in pancreatic beta cells

  • Itziar González-Moro,
  • Itziar González-Moro,
  • Henar Rojas-Márquez,
  • Henar Rojas-Márquez,
  • Maialen Sebastian-delaCruz,
  • Maialen Sebastian-delaCruz,
  • Jon Mentxaka-Salgado,
  • Jon Mentxaka-Salgado,
  • Ane Olazagoitia-Garmendia,
  • Ane Olazagoitia-Garmendia,
  • Ane Olazagoitia-Garmendia,
  • Luis Manuel Mendoza,
  • Luis Manuel Mendoza,
  • Aina Lluch,
  • Aina Lluch,
  • Federica Fantuzzi,
  • Carmen Lambert,
  • Carmen Lambert,
  • Jessica Ares Blanco,
  • Jessica Ares Blanco,
  • Jessica Ares Blanco,
  • Lorella Marselli,
  • Piero Marchetti,
  • Miriam Cnop,
  • Miriam Cnop,
  • Elías Delgado,
  • Elías Delgado,
  • Elías Delgado,
  • Elías Delgado,
  • José Manuel Fernández-Real,
  • José Manuel Fernández-Real,
  • José Manuel Fernández-Real,
  • Francisco José Ortega,
  • Francisco José Ortega,
  • Ainara Castellanos-Rubio,
  • Ainara Castellanos-Rubio,
  • Ainara Castellanos-Rubio,
  • Ainara Castellanos-Rubio,
  • Izortze Santin,
  • Izortze Santin,
  • Izortze Santin

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2023.1101934
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

Read online

IntroductionMost of the disease-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) lie in non- coding regions of the human genome. Many of these variants have been predicted to impact the expression and function of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA), but the contribution of these molecules to the development of complex diseases remains to be clarified.MethodsHere, we performed a genetic association study between a SNP located in a lncRNA known as LncTGM2 and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D), and analyzed its implication in disease pathogenesis at pancreatic beta cell level. Genetic association study was performed on human samples linking the rs2076380 polymorphism with T2D and glycemic traits. The pancreatic beta cell line EndoC-bH1 was employed for functional studies based on LncTGM2 silencing and overexpression experiments. Human pancreatic islets were used for eQTL analysis.ResultsWe have identified a genetic association between LncTGM2 and T2D risk. Functional characterization of the LncTGM2 revealed its implication in the transcriptional regulation of TGM2, coding for a transglutaminase. The T2Dassociated risk allele in LncTGM2 disrupts the secondary structure of this lncRNA, affecting its stability and the expression of TGM2 in pancreatic beta cells. Diminished LncTGM2 in human beta cells impairs glucose-stimulated insulin release.ConclusionsThese findings provide novel information on the molecular mechanisms by which T2D-associated SNPs in lncRNAs may contribute to disease, paving the way for the development of new therapies based on the modulation of lncRNAs.

Keywords