PCDH17 and diabetes mellitus: In our present study, another group of genes altered in response to DM is involved in cell proliferation in different organs (e.g. down-regulation of the antiproliferative and tumour suppressor protocadherin-17 (Pcdh17) [51] and up-regulation of the insulin signalling pathway promoter connector enhancer of kinase suppressor of Ras 1 (Cnksr1) [52, 53]; and wingless-type MMTV integration site family, member 2B (Wnt2b) playing a role in pancreatic beta cell replication [54] (Tables 2 and 3).