LncRNA Gm4419 promotes the development of cardiac diseases in type 2 diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy

Diabetic nephropathy has been proved to be correlated with the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases in diabetic patients. However, the mechanism is unclear. LncRNA Gm4419 has been reported to participate in the development of diabetic nephropathy, while its involvement in cardiac diseases is still unknown. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the correlation between Gm4419 expression and incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke. A total of 100 type 2 diabetic patients combined with diabetic nephropathy and 100 type 2 diabetic patients without diabetic nephropathy were included and followed up for 5 years. Renal function and cardiac function indicators as well as serum levels of GM4419 were measured on the day of admission and at the end of follow-up. Occurrence of CHD and stroke was recorded during follow-up and compared between two groups. Renal function of type 2 diabetic patients combined with diabetic nephropathy was worse than that of type 2 diabetic patients without diabetic nephropathy, while no significant differences in cardiac function indicators were found between two groups. Incidences of CHD and stroke were significantly higher in type 2 diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy than in patients without nephropathy. High serum level of Gm4419 was closely correlated with the occurrence of CHD and stroke as well as poor renal and cardiac functions. LncRNA Gm4419 can promote the development of cardiac diseases in type 2 diabetic patients with diabetic nephropathy.