2428-PUB: Circulating microRNAs Are Associated with Latino Ancestry but Not Prediabetes

Introduction: Circulating microRNAs (miRs) may be predictive biomarkers to identify individuals at risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Latinos are at particular high risk for T2D, and the reasons are entirely known. Methods: We compared expression of circulating miRs between 66 individuals who self-identified with Latino ancestry in the United States (n=21) and native Mexicans living in or near Leon, Mexico (n=45), who had prediabetes (n=36) or normal glycemic status (n=30). Expression of three miRs (i.e., miR-126, miR-146a, miR-15) associated with risk for T2D in other race/ethnic groups was measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: All miRs were strongly correlated (r 2 >0.7, p 2 =0.3, p Conclusions: Our study failed to validate associations between miRs and prediabetes observed in other racial groups, but we did identify differences in expression levels associated with geographic region. Further studies are needed to determine which miRs are widely associated with risk for T2D across racial groups versus miRs that identify unique risk within a racial subgroup. Disclosure E. Flowers: None. M. Lazo-de-la-Vega-Monroy: None. A. Sucher: None. B. Aouizerat: None. A.M. Kanaya: None. Funding University of California Institute for Mexico and the United States; El Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia