An international team of scientists, including those from the Center for Diabetes Research (CRCHUM) at Imperial College London, has discovered new biomarkers for developing type 2 diabetes. The findings of the study are described in an article published in the respected scientific journal Nature Communications.

As part of the European RHAPSODY (diabetes risk and progression assessment) project, the authors analyzed blood samples from 3,000 diabetic patients.

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In total, it was possible to identify about 20 molecules associated with the progression of the disease, which belonged to different classes: three metabolites, nine lipids and 11 proteins. The most promising of the 1,300 tested proteins was a protein called NogoR.

To confirm their results, the researchers tested the effect of increasing blood levels of NogoR on the metabolism of genetically modified mice. They introduced large amounts of fats and sugars into the diet of experimental animals, which increased their glucose tolerance. The mice then had their insulin sensitivity worsened, impairing their ability to regulate their blood sugar levels. Inhibition of a protein that destroys pancreatic cells will slow the development of diabetes.

The discovery in the future will help improve the quality of diagnostic tests and create more personalized treatment options for type 2 diabetes.