Circulating Non-Coding RNA Biomarkers for Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease with a major health burden in both developed and developing countries. While type I DM is caused by destruction of pancreatic islets leading to decreased insulin secretion, type II DM is due to insulin resistance on the target cells, though both result in increased blood glucose levels. This has direct consequences on various tissues in the body leading to diabetes associated complications such as neuropathy, cardiovascular diseases, nephropathy and retinopathy. It is estimated nearly half the cases of DM are undiagnosed and early detection of DM in pre diabetes stage will have a great impact in precluding the above complications. Non-coding RNAs are emerging as novel players in both development and disease process. Many of them are secreted in bio-fluids and are currently evolving as excellent biomarkers for various diseases including cancer. In this review, I summarise some of the recent developments and discoveries made in the field of different types of non-coding RNAs as biomarkers for DM. With the current state of knowledge, it is tempting to speculate that non- coding RNAs may occupy the standard diagnostic procedures in clinics for early detection of DM in near future.