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Two independent studies have strongly implicated DNER in the predisposition to type 2 diabetes mellitus. In a genome‑wide association study of American Indians, 278 young‑onset T2DM cases and 295 controls, along with 267 siblings used in family‑based analyses, a significant association of the rs1861612 C>T change in DNER was identified (odds ratio = 1.29 per T allele, P = 6.6 × 10⁻⁸) (PMID:24101674). In a separate study of a Chinese Han population with 298 T2DM patients and 500 controls, the same DNER rs1861612 variant was again found to increase disease risk, thereby replicating the initial association (PMID:25300688). Although classical segregation analysis is not available in these complex trait studies, the convergence of statistically robust genetic association signals from diverse populations substantiates the role of DNER.
The genetic evidence is bolstered by functional assays. In vitro transfection studies in murine pancreatic β‑cells have shown that DNER modulates notch signaling pathway gene expression, which is concordant with its proposed involvement in T2DM pathophysiology. Such functional data lend moderate experimental support to the genetic findings, suggesting that the DNER variant may affect beta‑cell function and thereby contribute to diabetes susceptibility.
Overall, the combined genetic and functional evidence supports a strong gene–disease association. While additional studies may further delineate the precise impact of DNER on T2DM risk, the current data are sufficient to inform diagnostic decision‑making, potential commercial assay development, and future publication efforts.
Key Take‑home: DNER is strongly associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus, providing a basis for its incorporation into clinical risk assessment models.
Gene–Disease AssociationStrongTwo independent association studies in diverse populations (>500 cases total) revealed a significant association of the rs1861612 C>T change with T2DM (PMID:24101674, PMID:25300688). Genetic EvidenceStrongReplication across American Indian and Chinese Han populations with robust p‑values and consistent allele effects support the genetic contribution of DNER to T2DM. Functional EvidenceModerateTransfection studies in murine pancreatic β‑cells demonstrated that altered DNER expression affects notch signaling pathway genes, aligning with the human phenotype (PMID:24101674). |