Diabetes – a puzzle that has been challenging the medical profession for decades. Environment, lifestyle, and genes are all intertwined with complex threads in our bodies. But is there some clue that we can control?A new study from Lund University may shed some light on the epigenetic changes behind type 2 diabetes.
The study found. This latest study, published in Nature Communications, delves into the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. The researchers looked at the epigenetics of insulin-producing cells, and they found 5,584 differences in the genome between 25 individuals with diabetes and 75 individuals without the disease. The most shocking thing is that the same epigenetic changes exist in these people with type 2 diabetes and in individuals at risk for high blood sugar.
"We have long been exploring whether epigenetics plays an important role in the development of type 2 diabetes," said Tina RNN of the Lund University Diabetes Centre (LUDC). Now, our research has revealed epigenetic changes that coexist in both the affected and at-risk individuals, which may be a key factor in developing type 2 diabetes. ”
Potential impact. The team's findings were not limited to finding these changes, they also identified 203 genes that play a key role in the development of type 2 diabetes. Of particular striking note is the fact that one of these genes, RHOT1, exhibits epigenetic changes in insulin-producing cells in diabetic patients and directly affects insulin secretion.
When we deleted RHOT1 gene expression in the cells of diabetic rats, the secretion of insulin was significantly reduced, which confirmed the importance of this gene in the process of insulin secretion. Tina R nn said.
Looking to the future. One of the goals of this study is to find a blood-based biomarker to ** disease risk. The researchers found that in 540 individuals who did not have the disease, there were epigenetic changes that could be linked to future disease.
The next step in the research is to work towards developing biomarkers of disease risk. If successful, it will be possible to predict individuals with these epigenetic changes before the disease develops and tailor health advice to them to reduce their risk of developing the disease.
This research may lead to a revolutionary breakthrough in disease prevention and personalized medicine in the future. It not only provides us with a new way to understand the pathogenesis of diabetes, but also opens the door to diabetes prevention. Let's look forward to an even greater role for this research in improving health and quality of life around the world.