Type 1 diabetes mellitus and its genetic association with miR-146a and miR-155 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)

The current case- control study investigated, the relation of miRNA146a (rs2910164) and miRNA 155 (rs767649) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and the incidence of T1DM in a sample of Pediatric Egyptian patients. One hundred and twenty-two patients diagnosed with type 1DM, were enrolled in the study. One hundred and two sex matched healthy subjects of the same ethnic were taken as a control group. Through history taking, clinical and physical examination, and anthropometric measurements were done to all participating patients. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length poly-morphism (PCR –RFLP) technique was performed for amplifying and genotyping of miRNA-146a (rs2910164). Genotyping of miR-155 (T/A) (rs767649) was performed using TaqMan allelic discrimination technique (RT-PCR). The minor C allele of miRNA 146a was significantly higher in the control group compared to the diabetic group under the co-dominant (p = 0.009, p = 0.005; respectively), dominant (p = 0.001) and additive genetic models (p = 0.003). The interaction between the miRNA 146a and miRNA 155 SNPs, revealed that the prevalence of DM tends to be lower if minor alleles were inherited by the subject (p = 0.04, p = 0.003; respectively). The study, provides evidence suggesting that miRNA146a SNP may have a protective role against the incidence of T1DM. The inheritance of minor alleles of miRNA 146a and/or miRNA 155 were more prevalent within the healthy control group in comparison to the patient's group which implies that both SNPs may interact to confer protection against T1DM.