Aging is associated with impaired pancreatic islet function, increased risk of type 2 diabetes, and changes in DNA methylation. Here the authors find blood-based biomarkers that reflect age-associated DNA methylation changes in human pancreatic islets associated with insulin secretion and diabetes.
Predicting the onset of diabetes is already possible by measuring the blood glucose level average, HbA1C, over time. However, the predictive potential of this method is modest and new methods are needed.
The discoveries made by the research group at Lund University have now made it possible to measure the presence of so-called DNA methylations in four specific genes, and thereby predict who is at risk of developing type 2 diabetes, long before the disease occurs. Methylations are chemical changes that control gene activity, that is, whether they are active or not.
The researchers started by studying insulin-producing beta cells from deceased persons. They found that the DNA methylations in the four genes in question increased, depending on the donor's age. This in turn affected the activity of the genes.
When these changes were copied in cultured beta cells, they proved to have a positive effect on insulin secretion.
The blood samples from the participants of two separate research projects - one Danish and one Finnish - were then studied and compared with blood samples taken from the same participants ten years later. The Finnish participants, who had exhibited higher levels of DNA methylation in their first sample, had a lower risk of type 2 diabetes ten years later. In the Danish participants, higher DNA methylation in their first sample was associated with higher insulin secretion ten years later. All of the Danish participants were healthy on both occasions, whereas approximately one-third of the Finnish participants had developed type 2 diabetes.
"Increased insulin secretion actually protects against type 2 diabetes. It could be the body's way of protecting itself when other tissue becomes resistant to insulin, which often happens as we get older", says the research project manager.
The studies were based on a relatively small number of participants, and a selection of genes. The researchers therefore now want to continue with finding markers with a stronger predictive potential by implementing so-called epigenetic whole-genome sequencing when analysing a person's entire genetic make-up and all the DNA methylations that come with it, in a larger population group.
The research group has previously shown that age, diet and exercise affect the so-called epigenetic risk of type 2 diabetes.
http://www.lu.se/article/ny-metod-mater-risken-for-typ-2-diabetes-i-blod
Latest News
Role of alternative splicin…
By newseditor
Posted 27 Apr
How the brain fine-tunes it…
By newseditor
Posted 25 Apr
Immune cells carry a long-l…
By newseditor
Posted 25 Apr
Mutations in noncoding DNA…
By newseditor
Posted 24 Apr
More influence of environme…
By newseditor
Posted 24 Apr
Other Top Stories
Marker for stroke prognosis and recovery in blood
Read more
Protecting genetic privacy in research
Read more
How melatonin promotes sleep
Read more
Neuronal uptake of amyloid beta in Alzheimer's disease
Read more
A novel monoclonal antibody therapy in a phase 2 trail cuts LDL cho…
Read more
Protocols
A programmable targeted pro…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Apr
MemPrep, a new technology f…
By newseditor
Posted 08 Apr
A tangible method to assess…
By newseditor
Posted 08 Apr
Stem cell-derived vessels-o…
By newseditor
Posted 06 Apr
Single-cell biclustering fo…
By newseditor
Posted 01 Apr
Publications
IL-6 promotes tumor growth…
By newseditor
Posted 27 Apr
Partial loss of MCU mitigat…
By newseditor
Posted 27 Apr
Thiol dioxygenases: from st…
By newseditor
Posted 27 Apr
Systematic characterization…
By newseditor
Posted 27 Apr
The MYCN 50 UTR as a therap…
By newseditor
Posted 25 Apr
Presentations
Hydrogels in Drug Delivery
By newseditor
Posted 12 Apr
Lipids
By newseditor
Posted 31 Dec
Cell biology of carbohydrat…
By newseditor
Posted 29 Nov
RNA interference (RNAi)
By newseditor
Posted 23 Oct
RNA structure and functions
By newseditor
Posted 19 Oct
Posters
A chemical biology/modular…
By newseditor
Posted 22 Aug
Single-molecule covalent ma…
By newseditor
Posted 04 Jul
ASCO-2020-HEALTH SERVICES R…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-HEAD AND NECK CANCER
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar
ASCO-2020-GENITOURINARY CAN…
By newseditor
Posted 23 Mar