Cell discovery for diabetes

Tue, 22 Sep 2009
According to a recent diabetes report published in the journal Cell Metabolism, scientists in Sweden have discovered a difference between the structure and expression of the genes that serve to control energy levels in humans. The difference was observed in cells in the bodies of people with type 2 diabetes, and healthy people.

The research team, from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, found that epigenetic marks will substantially affect the response of the body to changes in blood glucose levels . The results indicate that DNA changes could occur early on in the development of type 2 diabetes .

Professor Zierath was reported as commenting: "These changes take place when you expose muscle to systemic factors that mimic the diabetic condition. It's a much more dynamic process than we thought. The genetic causes of diabetes are important, but this shows us that epigenetic changes, which take place on top of our genes, can alter our physiology in critical ways."

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