We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

LabMedica

Download Mobile App
Recent News Expo Clinical Chem. Molecular Diagnostics Hematology Immunology Microbiology Pathology Technology Industry Focus

Molecular Type 2 Diabetes Biomarker Identified

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 23 Feb 2016
Image: The HiScan SQ scanner (Photo courtesy of Illumina).
Image: The HiScan SQ scanner (Photo courtesy of Illumina).
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is an established risk factor for a wide range of vascular diseases, including ischemic stroke (IS) as well as heart attacks, neuropathy and blindness.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic illness characterized by the presence of elevated blood glucose levels and it accounts for between 80% and 90% of diabetes cases and is one of the major cardiovascular risk factors.

Scientists at the Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (Barcelona, Spain) investigated DNA methylation in the blood samples of a cohort of 355 stroke patients using a state-of-the-art technique that allows them to study more than 450,000 methylation points in the genome. In addition, the study compared the methylation profiles of diabetics and non-diabetics as well as their levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), a biomarker that indicates blood glucose levels over the past three months.

DNA samples were extracted from whole peripheral blood collected in 10 mL EDTA tubes. The Chemagic Magnetic Separation Module I system (Chemagen, Baesweiler, Germany) was used for DNA isolation in one cohort, and the Autopure LS (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) in another. Genome-wide DNA methylation was assessed using the Illumina HumanMethylation450 Beadchip (Illumina Netherlands; Eindhoven, Netherlands) and the arrays were scanned with the Illumina HiScan SQ scanner.

The study was subsequently replicated in two cohorts from independent populations, with 167 and 645 patients respectively, confirming the relationship between Thioredoxin Interacting Protein (TXNIP) methylation, diabetes and glucose level dysfunction. Methylation of TXNIP was inversely and intensely associated with HbA1c levels specifically related to diabetic patients with poor control of glucose levels. The authors concluded that hypomethylation of the TXNIP gene is related to type 2 DM. The inverse relationship between TXNIP methylation and HbA1c values suggests that TXNIP hypomethylation is a consequence of sustained hyperglycemia levels.

Carolina Soriano-Tárraga, PhD, the lead author of the study said, “The methylation of this gene could be used as an early biomarker of dysfunction in the control of glucose levels. We are currently studying the implications and specific role of this gene in diabetes. In the future it could provide a possible therapeutic target for treating diabetes or controlling glucose concentrations.” The study was published originally online on December 7, 2015, in the journal Human Molecular Genetics.

Related Links:

Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute 
Chemagen
Illumina Netherlands


Platinum Member
Automated Coagulation Analyzer
Hemolumi H6
Gold Member
Neonatal Heel Incision Device
Tenderfoot
Automatic CLIA Analyzer
Shine i6000
New
Microbiology Laboratory Automation Solution
BD Kiestra™ ReadA+BarcodA

Channels

Microbiology

view channel
Image: Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a potentially life-threatening infection caused by Aspergillus mold that primarily affects people with severely weakened immune systems. (Image Credit: Adobe Stock)

Rapid Urine Test Aids Diagnosis of Invasive Aspergillosis

Invasive aspergillosis is an uncommon mold infection in the general population but can pose serious risks for people with weakened immune defenses. Diagnosis can be difficult because existing approaches... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: The laser-based photoacoustic spectroscopy setup consists of a Mid-IR laser equipped with three QCL modules covering wavelengths from 5.6 μm to 12.9 μm, two silver coated mirrors (SCM), a dichroic mirror (DM) with a transmittance of 90%, a thermal power sensor head (PM) to monitor the output laser power, a mechanical chopper (MC) for frequency modulation and a CEPAS-detector with a self-designed swab holder (SH). (Credit: Graunke, T., Scholz, T., Pieniak, M. et al. Scientific Reports (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-68298-9)

Laser-Based Swab Analysis Shows Promise for Detecting Disease-Linked Odor Patterns

Disease-related changes in volatile organic compounds can alter body odor, producing measurable patterns in exhaled breath and bodily fluids. Current analytical methods can be complex, time-consuming,... Read more

Industry

view channel
Image: Natera\'s MCED assay analyzes cell-free DNA in blood to screen for multiple cancers (Image Credit: Adobe Stock)

Multi-Cancer Screening Blood Test Gains FDA Breakthrough Designation

Natera Inc.’s (Austin, TX, USA) multi-cancer early detection (MCED) assay has received Breakthrough Device designation (BDD) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The assay analyzes cell-free... Read more