T2DB: A Web Database for Long Non-Coding RNA Genes in Type II Diabetes

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Molecular Biology
• Bioinformatics

Background:

• Type II diabetes (T2D) is a global health concern linked to obesity and severe complications like cardiovascular and kidney diseases.
• Understanding T2D pathogenesis is crucial for mitigating hyperglycemia's harmful effects.
• Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as key players, yet remain understudied in T2D due to a focus on protein-coding genes in existing datasets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically analyze lncRNA expression changes in T2D patients using existing RNA sequencing data.
• To investigate the functional role of a specific T2D-related lncRNA, USP30-AS1, in immune cell activation.
• To create a centralized resource, T2DB, for lncRNA and protein-coding gene expression profiling in T2D.

Main Methods:

• Secondary analysis of published RNA sequencing data from T2D patients and those with related complications.
• Loss-of-function experiments using an in vitro model of pro-inflammatory macrophage activation to study USP30-AS1.
• Development of the T2DB web application for expression profiling.

Main Results:

• Systematic analysis revealed differential expression of lncRNAs in T2D patients compared to controls.
• Functional experiments provided insights into the role of USP30-AS1 in macrophage activation.
• The T2DB web application was successfully developed, offering a comprehensive resource for T2D-related gene expression.

Conclusions:

• lncRNAs represent a significant, under-explored area in T2D pathogenesis.
• USP30-AS1 is implicated in immune responses relevant to T2D.
• The T2DB tool will accelerate lncRNA research in type II diabetes.