Analysis of Circulating Long Non‐Coding RNA in Prediabetes or Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Subjects With or Without Heart Stress

AIMS: Early myocardial stress may develop in subjects with prediabetes or newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D) even in the absence of overt heart failure. We aimed to evaluate circulating lncRNAs in prediabetes or newly diagnosed T2D subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 133 subjects with prediabetes or newly diagnosed T2D without a history of cardiovascular disease. All participants underwent clinical, biochemical and echocardiographic evaluations. Circulating lncRNAs MALAT1, NOS2P3, CCDC68, RNF145 and ARL4C were assessed. The study population was stratified into two groups according to the NT-proBNP value (Group 1, NT-proBNP < 75 pg/mL; Group 2, NT-proBNP ≥ 75 pg/mL). RESULTS: Group 2 exhibited increased hs-CRP and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness, and lower E/A ratio (p for all < 0.05). The investigated lncRNAs were upregulated in the Group 2 and were associated with NT-proBNP levels (p for all < 0.05). LncRNAs ARL4C and NOS2P3 were associated with EAT thickness (p for all < 0.05). Multiple regression analysis showed that lncRNA ARL4C, NT-proBNP, age, male sex, and BMI were associated with EAT thickness (p for all < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Prediabetes or newly diagnosed T2D subjects with higher NT-proBNP levels exhibited an increased expression of circulating lncRNAs; moreover, lncRNAs ARL4C and NOS2P3 were associated with EAT thickness. Our findings suggest that the evaluation of circulating lncRNAs in addition to NT-proBNP may be useful to identify dysmetabolic subjects with an early myocardial stress.