(Press-News.org) Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have discovered a previously unknown molecule that may explain why people with type 2 diabetes often suffer from muscle weakness and muscle loss – a condition that has a major impact on quality of life and overall health.
In the new study, published in Sciences Advances, researchers have identified a previously unknown molecule, TMEM9B-AS1, which may explain why people with type 2 diabetes often suffer from muscle weakness and loss of muscle mass. The molecule is a long non-coding RNA that plays an important role in regulating cellular functions.
The researchers discovered that TMEM9B-AS1 is significantly reduced in skeletal muscles in individuals with type 2 diabetes, and its absence disrupts the machinery needed to build new muscle proteins.
"Our study shows that TMEM9B-AS1 supports the stability of MYC, a key gene that drives the production of ribosomes – the factories that manufacture proteins. Without this RNA molecule, MYC becomes unstable, and muscle cells lose their ability to maintain normal protein production. This may help explain the muscle deterioration we often see in people with metabolic diseases," says first author Ilke Sen, affiliated researcher at the Department of physiology and parmacologypharmacology, Karolinska Institutet.
The study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from the Mondor Institute for Biomedical Research in Paris, France, and the University of Innlandet, Lillehammer, Norway. See the study for funders and any conflicts of interest.
Publication: ‘Down-regulation of human-specific lncRNA TMEM9B-AS1 in skeletal muscle of people with type 2 diabetes affects ribosomal biogenesis’, Ilke Sen, Jonathon A. B. Smith, Elena Caria, Iurii Orlov, Mladen Savikj, Aidan J. Brady, Kristian Lian, Stian Ellefsen, Juleen R. Zierath, Anna Krook, Sciences Advances, online 9 July 2025, doi: 10.1126/sciadv.ads4371
END
Newly discovered molecule may explain reduced muscle mass in type 2 diabetes
2025-07-10
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Rheumatoid arthritis and muscle wasting: New review points to overlooked complications
2025-07-10
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects individuals across all ages and genders. While its most visible impact is on the joints, RA also contributes to accelerated musculoskeletal ageing, often leading to progressive muscle degeneration and reduced muscle function. Emerging research has identified a specific form of muscle loss in RA—known as myopenia—which differs significantly from other disease-related muscle-wasting conditions such as cancer cachexia or heart failure. Unlike those conditions, myopenia is characterized by a decline in muscle mass without concurrent fat loss and can manifest across all age groups.
Despite ...
Overcoming intrinsic dispersion locking by misaligned bilayer metagratings
2025-07-10
Wavelength and propagation direction (angle) are two fundamental properties of light. The ability to selectively control both a specific wavelength and a specific angle forms the physical foundation for many advanced optical applications. However, due to the intrinsic dispersion in periodic systems, there exists an intrinsic locking relationship between angle and wavelength in the resonant spectrum. As a result, it has been widely accepted that changing the angle of incidence inevitably shifts the filtering wavelength of optical devices. This relationship between angle and wavelength in resonant spectra makes their independent ...
Vaccines work: Cohort data from Denmark show real-world evidence of stable protection against HPV-related cervical cancer
2025-07-10
Among the more than 100 types of human papillomavirus (HPV), at least 14 are considered as ‘high-risk’ types which can cause (cervical) cancer. After breast cancer, cervical cancer is the most common cancer in Europe among women aged 15–44 years [1].
Before HPV vaccination among teenage girls started in Denmark, high-risk HPV was found in all cervical cancers. HPV types 16/18 accounted for around three quarters (74%) of cervical cancers. These two types are covered in the 4-valent HPV vaccine offered to girls since 2008 as well as the 9-valent vaccine which has been in use in Denmark since November 2017. One third (26%) of cervical cancers prior to the HPV immunisation ...
Underwater shaped charge explosions: a comprehensive experimental study on coupling dynamics
2025-07-10
In a recent study published in Engineering, researchers from Harbin Engineering University have conducted an in-depth experimental investigation into the complex coupling dynamics of metal jets, waves, and bubbles generated during the underwater explosion of shaped charges. This research provides valuable insights into the behavior of shaped charges in underwater environments, which is crucial for understanding their potential applications and impacts.
The study was designed to analyze the characteristics of metal ...
Wristband sensor provides all-in-one monitoring for diabetes and cardiovascular care
2025-07-10
A new wearable wristband could significantly improve diabetes management by continuously tracking not only glucose but also other chemical and cardiovascular signals that influence disease progression and overall health. The technology was published in Nature Biomedical Engineering.
The flexible wristband consists of a microneedle array that painlessly samples interstitial fluid under the skin to measure glucose, lactate and alcohol in real time using three different enzymes embedded within the tiny needles. Designed for easy replacement, the microneedle array can be swapped out to tailor ...
Unveiling the spatiotemporal landscape of Ganoderma lingzhi: insights into ganoderic acid distribution and biosynthesis
2025-07-10
A recent study published in Engineering has provided new insights into the spatiotemporal distribution and biosynthesis of ganoderic acids (GAs) in Ganoderma lingzhi (G. lingzhi), a mushroom renowned for its medicinal properties in traditional Chinese medicine. The research, led by scientists from Northeast Forestry University, China, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, and the University of Macau, utilized a multi-omics approach to map the distribution of GAs and elucidate their biosynthetic pathways.
G. lingzhi, often referred to as the “mushroom of immortality,” has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2000 years. It contains various bioactive substances, ...
Quality and antibiotic resistance risks in livestock probiotics in China
2025-07-10
A recent study published in Engineering has shed light on the quality and potential antibiotic resistance dissemination risks associated with livestock probiotics in China. The research, conducted by a team from the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Yangzhou University, analyzed 95 non-duplicate commercial probiotic products for livestock from across China, revealing significant issues in labeling accuracy, strain composition, and the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs).
The study found that the labeling compliance rate for Lactobacillus was alarmingly low at just 11%, with approximately ...
Genomic study reveals deep roots of human survival and adaptation in Himalayas
2025-07-10
A new genomic study reveals how human populations adapted, survived, and diversified in the Himalayas, one of the most extreme and challenging environments on Earth.
The research, a collaboration between the University of Birmingham and international partners from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, analysed whole-genome sequences from diverse Himalayan ethnic groups, many of which had never been genetically studied before at this level.
Published today (10 July) in Current Biology, the study shows that population structure in the Himalayas began over 10,000 years ago, thousands of years before archaeological evidence of permanent settlement at high altitudes. This early divergence ...
Differential obesity trends in Asian and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander US adults
2025-07-10
About The Study: In a large California health care system, the contemporary burden of obesity varied substantially across disaggregated Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander subgroups ages 30 to 49, affecting more than half of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander adults (body mass index [BMI] 30 or greater). Rapid temporal increases in high BMI were seen among Filipino and other Southeast Asian subpopulations where nearly 50% of females and 60% of males had a BMI greater than or equal to 27.5.
Corresponding Author: To ...
Cumulative anticholinergic exposure and change in gait speed and grip strength in older adults
2025-07-10
About The Study: In this cohort study, higher anticholinergic exposure was associated with accelerated decline in physical performance, consistent with clinically meaningful decline. These findings suggest that minimizing anticholinergic medications is important for healthy aging.
Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Shelly L. Gray, PharmD, MS, email slgray@uw.edu.
To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/
(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.19819)
Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions ...