The role of circadian rhythm-related genes in type 2 diabetes from a multi-omics perspective

The integration of mQTL and eQTL data identified 20 critical methylation sites and 13 associated genes relevant to T2DM, with Heat Shock Factor 1(HSF1) emerging as a pivotal gene. Notably, high methylation at the site cg18814314 was inversely correlated with T2DM risk, while increased expression of HSF1 showed a positive correlation. These findings suggest that HSF1 plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of T2DM through circadian rhythm regulation, highlighting its potential as a target for early intervention strategies. Further research is warranted to investigate the timing of circadian gene expression and methylation in T2DM development.