Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is the most common form of diabetes and is associated with many complications. T2D is preventable through weight control and exercise; however, many individuals are unaware that they are at risk and do not change their lifestyle in time to avoid disease.
In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation , Robert Gerszten and colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital identify the metabolite 2-aminoadipic acid (2-AAA) as a biomarker for T2D diabetes risk. Individuals with increased levels of 2-AAA had a much greater risk of developing diabetes than individuals with lower 2-AAA levels.
The authors found that this metabolite was present in at-risk individuals up to 12 years before to T2D onset. Additionally, addition of 2-AAA to isolated pancreatic cells from both mice and humans enhanced insulin secretion.
This study provides a biomarker of T2D risk that is a potential therapeutic target for the regulation of glucose homeostasis.
TITLE: 2-Aminoadipic acid is a biomarker for diabetes risk
AUTHOR CONTACT: Robert E. Gerszten
Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA
Phone: 617-724-8322; Fax: 617-726-1544; E-mail: RGERSZTEN@PARTNERS.ORG
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/64801?key=174fdbca12771be4333b
Journal of Clinical Investigation