(Press-News.org)
AMHERST, Mass. — An international study co-led by researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Helmholtz Munich in Germany has uncovered hundreds of genes and proteins likely to play a causal role in Type 2 diabetes, many of which would have been missed by studies relying on blood samples alone.
The study, published in Nature Metabolism, shows that the biological mechanisms underlying Type 2 diabetes are highly tissue-specific and that genetic diversity across populations is critical for identifying disease drivers.
The research team treated genetic data from more than 2.5 million people worldwide as a “natural experiment” to prioritize genes and proteins involved in Type 2 diabetes. Researchers compared results across seven diabetes-relevant tissues and four global ancestry groups, demonstrating that analyses limited to blood samples capture only a fraction of disease biology.
“We’ve known for some time now that tissue context is important to consider when trying to understand the mechanisms underlying the development of Type 2 diabetes,” says Cassandra Spracklen, associate professor of epidemiology at UMass Amherst and co-senior author of the paper. “But this work demonstrates just how important that context truly is.”
Blood is the most accessible tissue for many molecular studies, but Type 2 diabetes arises from a network of organs, including adipose (fatty) tissue, the liver, skeletal muscle and the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. The analysis shows that attempts to explain disease mechanisms using blood data alone provide an incomplete picture.
Across seven tissues central to diabetes biology, the researchers identified causal evidence for 676 genes. Only 18% of genes with a causal effect in a primary diabetes tissue, such as the pancreas, also showed a corresponding signal in blood. Conversely, 85% of gene effects detected in diabetes-relevant tissues did not appear in blood.
“By revealing both shared and tissue-specific mechanisms, our findings move us closer to improving strategies for Type 2 diabetes prevention and treatments that may be more effective across global populations,” adds Chi “Josh” Zhao, a doctoral student in epidemiology at UMass Amherst and co-first author of the study.
The work builds on data from the Type 2 Diabetes Global Genomics Initiative, an international consortium that includes substantial representation from non-European populations. Using genome-wide association studies, the initiative has identified thousands of DNA variants linked to diabetes risk.
In the new analysis, researchers examined how these variants influence gene activity and protein levels across populations from Europe, Africa, the Americas and East Asia. The study focused on genetic variants located near genes that affect gene expression or protein abundance and tested more than 20,000 genes and 1,630 proteins.
The results provide strong evidence that genetically predicted levels of 335 genes and 46 proteins influence Type 2 diabetes risk. Some associations were consistent across ancestry groups, while others emerged only when data from historically underrepresented populations were included.
The findings lay out a roadmap for future research aimed at understanding the biological pathways underlying Type 2 diabetes and developing more effective treatments.
END
As courts increasingly turn to virtual proceedings, jurors who deliberate online may be just as attentive, engaged and fair-minded as those who meet face-to-face, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.
The study, published in Law and Human Behavior, compared 54 mock juries. Twenty-four of them met in person and 30 deliberated virtually using the same civil trial materials. Across most measures, the two formats produced nearly identical results.
“Despite concerns that virtual formats substantially ...
At the height of the “Great Resignation” in 2021, more than 50 million workers in the United States quit their jobs, driven by stress, burnout and rising expectations for sustainable work. Nearly half cited inadequate benefits as a main reason for leaving.
The U.S. is the only country in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development – a group of 38 high-income nations – that does not guarantee paid time off (PTO), paid vacation or paid maternity leave.
While some employers have expanded PTO, many workers still get none, and fewer than half have consolidated leave. With replacement costs ...
Background and Aims
The rate of functional cure (HBsAg loss) remains unsatisfactory following pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) treatment in chronic hepatitis B. To optimize PEG-IFN administration, this study aimed to evaluate virological markers to predict functional cure and/or hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) loss.
Methods
Relevant studies assessing virologic markers for predicting functional cure and HBeAg loss after PEG-IFN therapy were systematically retrieved from PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science up to November 2023. Predictive effectiveness was evaluated via the summary receiver operating characteristic ...
For quantum computers to function, they must be kept at extremely low temperatures. However, today’s cooling systems also generate noise that interferes with the fragile quantum information they are meant to protect. Now, researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have developed an entirely new type of minimal quantum "refrigerator", which is partly driven by the noise itself. This refrigerator enables very precise control over heat and energy flows and could ...
Traditional Chinese medicine formulas (TCMFs) are widely used in clinical practice, but their molecular mechanisms can be difficult to pin down because formulas often contain many constituents that act on multiple targets and pathways. In a new review in the Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines, researchers describe how artificial intelligence (AI) methods are increasingly being used to tackle this complexity and accelerate mechanism-oriented research on TCMFs.
The review, authored by researchers ...
Ultrasonography is a non-invasive imaging technique used for real-time imaging. This versatile technique is used as a reliable diagnostic tool in various modalities. The conventional liquid gel used in ultrasonography is a critical component of this process that acts as an acoustic coupling medium, removing the air gap between the probe and skin surface. This allows improved image resolution and accurate diagnostic interpretations.
However, the liquid gel has a quick drying time, which often compromises the image quality. Additionally, it may irritate patients and occasionally become contaminated. The clinician's performance is ...
Scientists at IOCB Prague are uncovering new details of gene transcription. They have identified a previously unknown molecular mechanism by which the transcription of genetic information from deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) into ribonucleic acid (RNA) can be initiated. The researchers focused on a specific class of molecules known as alarmones, which are found in cells across a wide range of organisms and whose levels often increase under conditions of cellular stress. The results were published in the prestigious ...
Research Highlights:
Electromagnetic network-targeted field (ENTF) therapy, which targets specific connections in the brain, combined with physical therapy, significantly reduced disability in stroke survivors after 90 days.
An analysis of two small clinical trials suggests that ENTF therapy is safe and works well in reducing overall disability after stroke.
Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as a full ...
Research Highlights:
Female stroke survivors were more than twice as likely as their stroke-free counterparts to have another stroke while pregnant and in the six weeks after childbirth, according to an analysis of a large national database of electronic health records.
In addition, the risk of ischemic stroke during pregnancy and the early postpartum period was 82% more likely among pregnant women who had a previous heart attack and 25% more likely in women with obesity.
Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract. Abstracts presented at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s ...
Research Highlights:
A study of over 200 adults followed for five years found that greater white matter damage in the brain was linked to decreased driving, fewer trips, repetitive routes and having more driving errors, especially in those who later developed dementia.
In contrast, adults ages 65 and older who were taking blood pressure medicines, particularly ACE inhibitors, were less likely to show risky driving behaviors, even when brain damage was present (evidence of white matter damage caused by reduced ...
