H19 and TUG1 lncRNAs as Novel Biomarkers for Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Diabetic Patients

Abstract

Introduction: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a gastrointestinal disorder due to enteric nervous system impairment that produces different patterns of digestion. IBS is a common finding in diabetic patients. The functions of lncRNAs in IBS are still not clear and need to be further investigated. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic roles of lncRNA H19 and TUG1 for IBS associated with diabetes and to evaluate their association with clinical and laboratory findings. Subjects and Methods: Samples from 42 diabetic patients, 42 diabetic patients with IBS, and 42 healthy controls were obtained. The LncRNA H19 and TUG1 expressions were measured by quantitative real-time PCR. Results: The patients with IBS had significantly lower levels of lncRNA H19 and TUG1 expression than the healthy controls and diabetic-only patients (p < 0.001). LncRNA H19 and TUG1 can discriminate between diabetic-only patients and those with IBS (areas under the ROC curves of 0.95 and 0.722, respectively). The TUG1 expression levels were significantly different among types of IBS (IBS-D lower than IBS-M and IBS-C lower than IBS-M; p = 0.0165 and p = 0.043, respectively). H19 and TUG1 were downregulated in patients with poor glycemic control. lncRNA H19 and TUG1 expression in diabetic patients with IBS significantly negatively correlated with the IBS severity scoring system. Both lncRNAs’ expression significantly predicted the disease severity. LncRNA H19 expression can be an independent predictor for disease severity (adjusted odds ratio = 0.00001, 95% CI = 0–0.5, p = 0.045). Conclusions: Diabetic patients with IBS had significantly lower levels of lncRNA H19 and TUG1 expression than healthy controls and diabetic-only patients. LncRNA H19 had better diagnostic performance criteria for IBS. LncRNA H19 expression can be an independent predictor for IBS severity.

Diabetes and diabetic associative diseases: An overview of epigenetic regulations of TUG1

“…Both lncRNAs predict disease severity and H19 acts as an independent predictor. This highlights the potential of H19 as a diagnostic marker and predictor for IBS severity in diabetes ( Esawy et al, 2022a , Esawy et al, 2022b , Zhao et al, 2023 ) (see Table 1 ).…”

“…TUG1, initially recognized as a transcript increased by taurine treatment in retinal cells, has been implicated in diverse cellular processes through its involvement in epigenetic regulation ( Duan et al, 2017 , Dieter et al, 2023a , Dieter et al, 2023b ). Although initially linked to retinal development and function, subsequent studies have revealed its broader implications in various biological contexts, including cancer, neurodegeneration, and, more recently, diabetes ( Bhat et al, 2022a , Bhat et al, 2022b , Bhat et al, 2022c , Esawy et al, 2022a , Esawy et al, 2022b ). The regulatory functions of TUG1 are mediated by its interactions with DNA, RNA, and proteins, suggesting its pivotal role in modulating gene expression networks.…”