Typediabetes can be predicted with epigenetic changes

Date:
March 16, 2022
Source:
University of Turku
Summary:
Children who develop type 1 diabetes show epigenetic changes in the
cells of their immune system before the antibodies of the disease
are detected in their blood. The findings of two new studies offer
new opportunities to identify the children with the genetic risk
for developing diabetes very early on.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Children who develop type 1 diabetes show epigenetic changes in the
cells of their immune system already before the antibodies of the
disease are detected in their blood. The findings of two new studies
offer new opportunities to identify the children with the genetic risk
for developing diabetes very early on.


========================================================================== Epigenetic changes can affect how our genes work. Environmental factors,
such as viral infections, can cause epigenetic changes.

The findings in the epigenetic makeup linked to diabetes were discovered
in two new studies led by researchers from Turku Bioscience at the
University of Turku, Finland.

"We uncovered previously unknown, early-onset epigenetic changes. They
offer us new opportunities to further develop ways to identify children
who have a risk of developing type 1 diabetes even before they get sick,"
says Professor Riitta Lahesmaa, Director of Turku Bioscience and a group
leader in the InFLAMES research flagship initiative.

Earlier studies have shown that certain antibodies detected in children's
blood samples indicate an increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes
in the near future. So that medical professionals could intervene in
the disease even sooner, earlier disease indicators than the antibodies
are needed to detect the risk. This involves searching for biomarkers indicating type 1 diabetes, and epigenetic changes could be such a
biomarker.

"Our observations on epigenetics are extremely important as our goal
is to develop methods and tools to prevent the onset of type 1 diabetes
in children who are at risk of developing the disease," says Professor
Laura Elo. Elo is the Director of the Medical Bioinformatics Centre at
Turku Bioscience and a group leader in the InFLAMES research flagship.

Finnish children have an increased risk of developing type 1 diabetes In Finland, children's risk of developing type 1 diabetes is the highest
in the world. In addition to the genetic susceptibility, environmental
factors have a great significance for developing the disease. The
environmental factors include, for example, excessive level of hygiene, biodiversity loss, and environmental toxins.

The newly published studies are based on long-term interdisciplinary
research collaboration with international partners. The project has
included doctors who are in charge of the patients and also conduct
clinical research, researchers in molecular medicine and immunology, and experts in computational science. In the studies, researchers analysed longitudinal samples with deep sequencing covering the entire genome as
well as with computational methods and artificial intelligence.

"Our research was enabled by close collaboration with Professor Mikael
Knip from the University of Helsinki, who coordinates a study funded
by the EU. He is also one of the key scientists in the national Type 1
Diabetes Prediction and Prevention (DIPP) project which was a partner
in the other study," highlights Professor Lahesmaa.

The studies were funded by the Academy of Finland, Juvenile Diabetes
Research Foundation (USA), European Union, Business Finland, Novo Nordisk,
and InFLAMES Flagship.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Turku. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal References:
1. Tomi Suomi, Ubaid Ullah Kalim, Omid Rasool, Asta Laiho, Henna
Kallionpa"a", Mari Va"ha"-Ma"kila", Mirja Nurmio, Juha Mykka"nen,
Taina Ha"rko"nen, Heikki Hyo"ty, Jorma Ilonen, Riitta Veijola,
Jorma Toppari, Mikael Knip, Laura L. Elo, Riitta Lahesmaa. Type
1 Diabetes in Children With Genetic Risk May Be Predicted Very
Early With a Blood miRNA.

Diabetes Care, 2022; DOI: 10.2337/dc21-2120
2. Inna Starskaia, Essi Laajala, Toni Gro"nroos, Taina Ha"rko"nen, Sini
Junttila, Roosa Kattelus, Henna Kallionpa"a", Asta Laiho,
Veronika Suni, Vallo Tillmann, Riikka Lund, Laura L. Elo,
Harri La"hdesma"ki, Mikael Knip, Ubaid Ullah Kalim, Riitta
Lahesmaa. Early DNA methylation changes in children developing
beta cell autoimmunity at a young age.

Diabetologia, 2022; DOI: 10.1007/s00125-022-05657-x ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/03/220316100429.htm

--- up 2 weeks, 2 days, 10 hours, 51 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)