Insulin Resistance - Type 2 Diabetes

A recent research funded by European Union has identified a genetic variant which is capable of increasing the risk factor of developing type 2 diabetes. The study which is published in the journal Nature Genetics may helps in better understand type 2 diabetes and development of new treatment process.

Type 2 diabetes is mainly due insufficient insulin production or improper utilization of insulin. This in turn causes the cells of functional organs do not get enough insulin, thereby the organs will not be able to absorb glucose from the blood to be used as their energy source.

Past studies have found 18 genetic variants responsible for raising the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Many of these variants mar the ability of pancreas to produce enough insulin required by the body. But the EU-funded study has found the first genetic variant that can mar the ability of cells of organs to use insulin.

The researchers scanned the genomes of both diabetic and non-diabetic people. On comparison it was found that one gene known as Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 (IRS1) plays a vital role in absorbing glucose from the blood. IRS1 present inside the cells and is responsible for initiating the process of glucose absorption. It produces a protein that inform the cells when to absorb glucose from the blood.

So when IRS1 is affected the whole process of insulin absorption is disrupted. About 40% reduction in functional ability of this genetic variant was seen in people affected by type 2 diabetes. This results in lesser sensitivity of the cell to insulin.

Professor Philippe Froguel from the Department of Genomic Medicine at Imperial College London in the UK pointed out that muscle tissue needs to produce more energy from glucose than any other organ. Also he stated that developing a treatment to improve the insulin working in muscle can be of great help to people suffering from Type 2 diabetes. It is clear that in the affected people the IRS1 is not functioning and so the treatment method will involve finding a way to bring back the gene to its proper functioning.

Four EU-funded projects namely EURO-BLCS, EUGENE2, EXGENESIS and EURODIA supported the study. EURO-BLCS deals with Biological, clinical and genetic markers of future risk of cardiovascular disease. This project is financed by Quality of life and management of living resources Specific programme of the Fifth Framework Programme (FP5). EXGENESIS and EURODIA are funded by Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health Thematic area of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).