Diabetes genes unravelled
Monday August 13th, 2012
British researchers have taken a major step towards unravelling the genetic secrets of type 2 diabetes, it was announced last night.
The researchers, from, Oxford University UK, say they have found ten new genetic regions, linked to the disease.
The findings help to build a genetic picture of how the disease develops through problems such as obesity - rather than giving hope for instant remedies.
The researchers say there are now a total of 60 genetic regions that have been linked to the disease.
Writing in Nature Genetics, the researchers say "many, many" common variants of genes each seem to have a small effect on the development of the disease.
The findings come from a study of some 150,000 people, of whom about 35,000 had type 2 diabetes. A new study, due to be unveiled next year, is set to examine the whole genetic map of people with type 2 diabetes.
Researcher Professor Mark McCarthy said: "The ten gene regions we have shown to be associated with type 2 diabetes are taking us nearer a biological understanding of the disease.
"It is hard to come up with new drugs for diabetes without first having an understanding of which biological processes in the body to target. This work is taking us closer to that goal."
He added: "By looking at all 60 or so gene regions together we can look for signatures of the type of genes that influence the risk of type 2 diabetes.
"We see genes involved in controlling the process of cell growth, division and ageing, particularly those that are active in the pancreas where insulin is produced."
Large-scale association analysis provides insights into the genetic architecture and pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes. Nature Genetics August 12 2012
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