Significant variants of type 2 diabetes in the Arabian Region through an Integration of exome databases

PLoS One. 2021 Apr 13;16(4):e0249226. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249226. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a major global health issue, and it has also become one of the major diseases in Arab countries. In addition to the exome databases that have already been established, whole exome sequencing data for the Greater Middle East are now available. To elucidate the genetic features of T2D in the Arabian Peninsula, we integrated two exome databases (gnomAD exome and the Greater Middle East Variome Project) with clinical information from the ClinVar. After the integration, we obtained 18 single nucleotide polymorphisms and found two statistically and clinically significant variants in two genes, SLC30A8 rs13266634 and KCNJ11 rs5219. Interestingly, the two genes are linked to the uptake of the metals, Zn and K respectively, which indicating the regional features of the genetic variants. The frequency of the risk allele of rs13266634 among individuals in the Arabian Peninsula was higher than among individuals in other regions. On the other hand, the frequency of the risk allele of rs5219 in the Arabian Peninsula was lower than that in other regions. We identified and characterized T2D-related variants that show unique tendencies in the Arabian Peninsula. Our analyses contribute to and provide guidance for the clinical research of T2D in the Arabian Peninsula.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Databases, Genetic
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / diagnosis
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / genetics*
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • Middle East
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying / genetics*
  • Zinc Transporter 8 / genetics*

Substances

  • Kir6.2 channel
  • Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying
  • SLC30A8 protein, human
  • Zinc Transporter 8

Grants and funding

This work was supported through funding from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) under award numbers BAS/1/1059/01/01, URF/1/1976/03/01 and URF/1/1976/20/01.