RUNX2 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: Our results revealed that, in comparison to the Ctrl group, the T2DM group exhibited significant downregulation of osteogenesis-related genes, namely, runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), collagen type I alpha 1 (Col1a1), osteocalcin (Ocn) and lipocalin-2 (Lcn2), in the metaphyseal region.