Research Projects

Sarcopenia is now considered to be an important complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Insulin resistance in skeletal muscle is one of the key pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the development of T2DM and sarcopenia. Various molecular and genetic pathways underlying insulin resistance in skeletal muscle have been studied. Recently circulating myomiRNAs (c-myomiR), are considered a new group of biomarkers in the clinical fields due to their ease of detection from the biofluids. Among the possible c-myomiRs, c-myomiR-486 is predominantly expressed in skeletal muscle and proved to be an important regulator of insulin-stimulated glucose disposal by skeletal muscle. Moreover, miR-486 expressed 10-20 times higher in skeletal muscle in comparison to other muscle-specific miRNA and circulates at a higher level in blood. The study regarding the association between c-myomiR-486 and sarcopenia in T2DM is limited. The present study will be a case-control study in which 93 participants will be recruited. The study participants will be divided into three groups such as group 1: T2DM patients with sarcopenia, group 2: T2DM patients without sarcopenia, group 3: healthy controls. We will analyze skeletal muscle mass and strength, insulin resistance and c-myomiR-486 profile in these groups. Later on, we will evaluate the association between c-myomiR-486 with insulin resistance as assessed by HOMA-IR and with sarcopenia-related parameters. Previously the study regarding c-myomiR-486 focussed on healthy individuals, the elderly population and alteration its level in response to exercise. But the study regarding the role of c-myomiR-486 in T2DM patients with sarcopenia is limited. Therefore, the present study intends to determine the level of c-myomiR-486 in T2DM patients with sarcopenia and to examine its association with insulin resistance and sarcopenia-related parameters.