Objective: PSMD9 is a ubiquitous protein present at high concentrations in eukaryotic cells. It contributes to the degradation of intracellular proteins in the immune system. It is part of the 26S proteasome complex, and its regulatory role on proteasomal activity as well as its effect on genetic transcription have been recognized. PSMD9 has been related with insulin secretion, and it regulates the ligand-dependent retinoid-target genes transcription. Importantly, PSMD9 rs74421874 (IVS3+nt460-G>A), rs3825172 (IVS3+nt437-C>T), and rs14259 SNPs have been previously linked to type 2 diabetes (T2D), maturity-onset diabetes of the young 3 (MODY3), overweight status and waist circumference, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, cardiovascular disease, microvascular disease (retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy), carpal tunnel syndrome, depression, anxiety, insomnia, and sleep hours.
Materials and methods: In this study, we analyzed the above-mentioned PSMD9 rs74421874 (IVS3+nt460-G>A), rs3825172 (IVS3+nt437-C>T), and rs14259 SNPs for linkage to the T2D quantitative traits of T2D age of onset, duration in years of combined oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin therapy and only insulin therapy, stress, and the birth weight of the subjects' children; and with the T2D qualitative phenotypes of irregular menses, couple infertility, and menopausal hot flashes.
Results: We found that PSMD9 was linked to irregular menses of reproductive age, menopausal hot flashes, T2D age of onset, years of combined oral and insulin therapy and of insulin therapy; we also found that it shows only a tendency towards linkage to stress, birthweight, and couple infertility.
Conclusions: This is the first time that this gene is implicated with irregular menses of reproductive age (a trait of polycystic ovarian syndrome), hot flashes, T2D onset age, and duration years of combined oral and insulin therapy and only insulin therapies.