Additionally, upstream of the KCNQ1 region examined in this paper is the noncoding RNA KCNQ1 overlapping transcript 1 (KCNQ1OT1). The possible role of KCNQ1OT1 expression in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and its parent-of-origin effect has been reported in mice [33]. Here, KCNQ1 is linked to type 2 diabetes mellitus.