Identification of Key LncRNAs and Pathways in Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus for Hypertriglyceridemia Patients Based on Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis

Abstract

Aims: Prevalence of prediabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) are increasing worldwide. Key lncRNAs were detected to provide a reference for searching potential biomarkers of prediabetes and T2DM in hypertriglyceridemia patients.

Methods: The study included 18 hypertriglyceridemia patients: 6 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients, 6 samples with prediabetes and 6 samples with normal blood glucose. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) was conducted to construct co-expression network and obtain modules related to blood glucose, thus detecting key lncRNAs.

Results: The green, yellow and yellow module was significantly related to blood glucose in T2DM versus normal controls, T2DM versus prediabetes, prediabetes versus normal controls, respectively. ENST00000503273, ENST00000462720, ENST00000480633 and ENST00000485392 were detected as key lncRNAs for the above three groups, respectively.

Conclusions: For hypertriglyceridemia patients with different blood glucose levels, ENST00000503273, ENST00000462720 and ENST00000480633 could be potential biomarkers of T2DM.

Keywords: WGCNA; diabetes; hypertriglyceridemia; lncRNAs; qRT-PCR.