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).
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
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
POC Immunoassay Analyzer
Procise DX
New
Neurofilament Light Chain Assay
Lumipulse G NfL Blood
Latest Clinical Chem. News
- UK Project Advances Blood-Based Dementia Testing Toward Routine Clinical Care
- Noninvasive AI-Enabled Raman Probe Distinguishes Skin Cancers from Normal Tissue
- Screening After Pneumococcal Disease May Reveal Undiagnosed Blood Cancer or Immune Disorders
- Label-Free Platform Combines Microfluidics and AI for Circulating Tumor Cell Analysis
- Rapid D-Dimer Assay Supports Exclusion and Monitoring of Serious Clotting Conditions
- Global Survey Underscores Need to Standardize Bone Biomarker Testing
- Point-of-Care Blood Test Could Speed Treatment Decisions in Acute Stroke
- Noninvasive Earwax Test Aims to Detect Meniere’s Disease
- Blood Biomarker Patterns Could Support Monitoring of Anti-Amyloid Treatment
- Breath Analysis Shows Promise for Distinguishing Cancerous from Benign Lung Nodules
- Prehospital Blood Test Could Reduce Emergency Transfers for Chest Pain
- First-of-Its-Kind Rapid Blood Test Gains CE Mark to Support Prehospital Stroke Triage
- Multi-Cancer Blood Test Expands Detection to Cancers Lacking Routine Screening Options
- Blood Test Could Guide Drug Selection to Prevent Repeat Heart Attacks and Strokes
- Blood Test Patterns Improve Cancer Risk Assessment in Primary Care
- Multi-Biomarker Blood Test Shows Promise for Early Pancreatic Cancer Detection
Channels
Clinical Chemistry
view channel
UK Project Advances Blood-Based Dementia Testing Toward Routine Clinical Care
Dementia is the leading cause of death in the UK, accounting for almost one in eight deaths, with more than 72,000 people dying from dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, in 2025. Despite this burden,... Read more
Noninvasive AI-Enabled Raman Probe Distinguishes Skin Cancers from Normal Tissue
Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States and among the most common worldwide. Nearly 1.5 million new cases were diagnosed globally in 2024, including nearly 340,000 melanomas.... Read more
Screening After Pneumococcal Disease May Reveal Undiagnosed Blood Cancer or Immune Disorders
Severe pneumococcal disease requiring hospitalization often presents as pneumonia, particularly in older adults and people with cancer or compromised immune function. Because M protein testing and antibody... Read more
Hematology
view channel
New Donor Genetic Marker May Help Predict Stem Cell Transplant Success
Donor selection for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation plays a major role in relapse risk and survival for patients with blood cancers and other blood disorders. Despite advances in genotyping, uncertainty... Read more
Updated Ferritin Thresholds Improve Detection of Iron Deficiency
Iron deficiency is one of the most common health conditions worldwide, yet its nonspecific symptoms can delay diagnosis for months. Variation in testing practices and ferritin thresholds may contribute... Read more
Immunology
view channel
Routine Newborn Blood Spots Can Measure GBS Antibody Levels
Group B Streptococcus (GBS) can cause serious infections in newborns. Protecting infants remains challenging because immune protection may depend on antibodies transferred from mother to baby before birth.... Read more
Blood Test Differentiates Bacterial and Viral Infections in Febrile Infants
Fever in infants younger than 3 months is treated as a medical emergency because infections can become life-threatening while the immune system is still developing. Emergency department teams must quickly... Read more
Microbiology
view channel
Genomic Workflow Identifies Fungal Pathogens Before Blood Cultures Turn Positive
Fungal bloodstream infections pose a major threat to hospitalized patients. Candida species cause most invasive fungal infections worldwide and are among the leading causes of hospital-acquired bloodstream... Read more
FDA-Cleared Multiplex PCR Test Detects 13 Respiratory Pathogens in a Single Sample
Respiratory tract infections can be difficult to distinguish at presentation because many cause overlapping, nonspecific symptoms and are initially grouped as influenza-like illnesses. Causes span a range... Read more
One-Hour Molecular Panel Expands Bloodstream Infection Testing for Gram-Negative Pathogens
Bloodstream infections can progress rapidly and lead to sepsis, organ failure, and death. In the United States, about 1.7 million adults develop sepsis each year, and at least 350,000 die during hospitalization... Read more
FDA Clears Rapid Phenotypic Antimicrobial Susceptibility System for Positive Blood Cultures
Bloodstream infections require prompt treatment, but antimicrobial susceptibility results often lag behind a positive blood culture. Conventional testing can take another 24 to 48 hours after a culture... Read morePathology
view channel
Rapid Mass Spectrometry Test May Aid Glioma Margin Decisions
Glioma brain tumors are highly infiltrative and can extend into nearby healthy brain tissue, making tumor margins difficult to define during surgery. Residual tumor cells may contribute to recurrence and... Read more
Genomic Classifier Predicts Benefit From Adding Hormone Therapy to Salvage Prostate Radiation
Men who have undergone prostatectomy for prostate cancer may later develop a detectable or rising prostate-specific antigen, prompting salvage radiation therapy. A key challenge is determining who is most... Read more
Technology
view channel
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
Laser-Enhanced Assay Boosts Sensitivity for Colorectal Cancer Biomarker Detection
Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Early detection remains critical, but cancer biomarkers can produce only faint... Read more
Industry
view channel
Collaboration Advances Automated Benchtop Platform for Routine Blood Testing
Routine blood testing is central to clinical decision-making, but access can vary across laboratory and healthcare settings. Broader use of automated benchtop platforms may help integrate testing more... Read more
Expanded Partnership Supports AI Biomarker Validation and Clinical Trial Deployment
CellCarta (Montreal, Canada) and Imagene AI (Miami, FL, USA) have expanded their collaboration to provide biopharma companies with a coordinated pathway for biomarker strategy, assay development, validation,... Read more
Collaboration Combines AI Cognitive Assessment and RNA Blood Testing for Earlier Alzheimer’s Detection
Alzheimer’s disease is often identified only after substantial neurodegeneration, partly because current diagnostic pathways are fragmented and difficult to scale. As treatment shifts toward earlier intervention,... Read more