This occurred alongside upregulation of HbA-a2 (encoding a globin family protein) and Gad2, which are known to be linked to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder [32]. Analysis by the algorithm pySCENIC identified enhanced expression of the transcription factor genes (Hes5, Lhx2, Sox21, Sox2) and neurogenesis regulatory factors in db/db mouse astrocytes (Fig. 3a–e), suggesting a potentially ambiguous lineage trajectory between db/db and control mice. This evidence concerns the gene SOX21 and bipolar disorder.