Gene-by-Sleep Duration Interaction for Glycemic Traits in over 480,000 Individuals - Centre for Population Health Research (POPC) - A joint centre by the University of Turku and the municipal authority of the Hospital District of Southwest Finland. The goal of Centre for Population Health Research is to promote health and well-being of society by enhancing research and development work on clinical-epidemiological population research.

medRxiv [Preprint]. 2026 Mar 3:2026.03.02.26346498. doi: 10.64898/2026.03.02.26346498.

ABSTRACT

Both short and long sleep duration have been associated with poor glycemic control and an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus. Although sleep duration may differentially modify the effects of genetic risk factors for type 2 diabetes, this has not been systematically investigated. In the present study, we conducted genome-wide gene by sleep duration meta-analyses, separately assessing interactions of short and long sleep, for fasting glucose, fasting insulin, and hemoglobin A1c in up to 489,309 individuals without diabetes from seven different population groups. In total, 16 loci were identified to interact with sleep duration – six with short sleep and ten with long sleep. Of these, four loci were identified through cross-population meta-analysis. Mapped genes exhibit pathway connections to pericyte apoptosis, NMDA receptor activity, the GLUT1 receptor, neurological health, and sleep architecture. Eleven loci ( VRK2, PCDH7, TFAP2A, CAP2, PAPPA, ZCCHC2, MYH9, SGIP1, JAKMIP3, RRAS2, MAPT ) have not been reported in previous glycemic trait genome-wide association studies. Interaction loci identify divergent biological mechanisms for short and long sleep duration influencing glycemic control, suggesting specific pathways of intervention for precision medicine approaches to diabetes prevention and management.

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS: The biological mechanisms of how sleep duration impacts type 2 diabetes pathogenesis and glycemic control are unclear.This study reveals 16 loci (11 novel) that interact with either short or long sleep duration to influence hemoglobin A1c, fasting glucose, or fasting insulin. Short and long sleep duration loci were non-overlapping.Regulation of copper and diacylglycerol levels appear as distinct cellular mechanisms implicated by long and short sleep duration loci respectively.Identified gene targets present insight for potential type 2 diabetes therapeutic design approaches related to JIP1-JNK interaction disruption, pericyte health, NMDA receptor activity, anti-inflammatory and leptin-enhancing dietary supplements, and serpins.

PMID:41867174 | PMC:PMC13001383 | DOI:10.64898/2026.03.02.26346498