Emerging roles of the long non-coding RNAs MALAT1 and TUG1 during differentiation of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells towards insulin-producing cells

• MALAT1 and TUG1 expression levels significantly increase during differentiation of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (Ad-MSCs) into insulin-producing cells (IPCs). • In-silico analyses using the RAIN database reveal an interplay between MALAT1 and TUG1 and their common targets, including GAS5, HOTAIR, and TP53COR1. • The upregulation of MALAT1 and TUG1 suggests their involvement in competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks and epigenetic modifications during IPC differentiation. • This is the first study to investigate the roles of MALAT1 and TUG1 in the differentiation of Ad-MSCs into IPCs, offering potential novel therapeutic targets for diabetes mellitus.