Haider.A. Alluhaiby
Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Al-Qadisiyah, Iraq
Prof.Dr. Manal.K. Mohammad
Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Al-Qadisiyah
ABSTRACT
Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a prevalent chronic autoimmune disease affecting children and adolescents, characterized by immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β-cells, leading to insulin deficiency. Genetic susceptibility plays a crucial role in disease development, with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in immune-related genes, such as CTLA-4 and miR-21, potentially influencing disease risk. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between miR-21 (rs1292037) and CTLA-4 (1822 C/T) gene polymorphisms and the susceptibility to T1DM in Iraqi children and adolescents. Methods: A case-control study was conducted involving 100 pediatric patients diagnosed with T1DM and 100 age-matched healthy controls. The study was carried out between September 2023 and December 2024. Genotyping of miR-21 (rs1292037) and CTLA-4 (1822 C/T) polymorphisms was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods. Results: The miR-21 (rs1292037) polymorphism was significantly associated with T1DM, suggesting its potential role in disease pathogenesis (p < 0.05). However, the CTLA-4 (1822 C/T) polymorphism did not show a significant correlation with T1DM risk, indicating that it may not contribute to disease susceptibility in the studied population. Conclusion: The findings suggest that miR-21 (rs1292037) could serve as a potential predictive and diagnostic biomarker for T1DM, while CTLA-4 (1822 C/T) may not be a major genetic determinant in the studied Iraqi cohort. Further research with larger sample sizes and functional studies is recommended to elucidate the molecular mechanisms linking miR-21 to T1DM pathogenesis.
Keywords: Type 1 Diabetes, CTLA4, MiRna 21.
