Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us

Download Mobile App




Novel Protein Biomarkers Linked to Risk of Developing Type I Diabetes

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 22 Nov 2021
A recent study identified three novel circulating proteins associated with type I diabetes risk and that could potentially serve as diagnostic biomarkers for the disease.

Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disease that developes when very little or no insulin is produced by the islets of Langerhans (containing beta cells) in the pancreas. More...
This type affects about 10% of people living with diabetes, but few biomarkers have been found that are able to predict the risk of developing the disease.

To rectify this situation, investigators at the University of Montreal (Canada) conducted a large-scale two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study of up to 1,611 circulating proteins from five large genome-wide association studies to screen for causal associations of these proteins with type I diabetes risk in 9,684 case subjects with type I diabetes and 15,743 control subjects.

The investigators found that a genetically predicted SD (standard deviation) increase in the level of signal regulatory protein gamma (SIRPG) was associated with increased risk of type I diabetes risk. SIRPG is a member of the signal-regulatory protein (SIRP) family, and also belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily. SIRP family members are receptor-type transmembrane glycoproteins known to be involved in the negative regulation of receptor tyrosine kinase-coupled signaling processes.

Results also showed that the risk of type I diabetes nearly doubled for every genetically predicted SD increase in interleukin-27 Epstein-Barr virus–induced 3 (IL27-EBI3) protein levels. In contrast, an SD increase in chymotrypsinogen B1 (CTRB1) was associated with decreased risk of type I diabetes. Chymotrypsinogen is an inactive precursor of the digestive enzyme chymotrypsin. It comprises a single 245 amino acid residue polypeptide chain, which is synthesized in the acinar cells of the pancreas.

"Our analyses revealed that higher levels of SIRPG and IL27EBI3 proteins increase the risk of developing type I diabetes and higher levels of CTRB1 decrease the risk of developing the disease," said senior author Dr. Despoina Manousaki, clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Montreal. "Based on our results, we observe that an increase in plasma SIRPG is associated with an almost 60% increase in the risk of developing type I diabetes, while an increase in IL27EBI3 doubles the risk. Conversely, a higher CTRB1 level has a protective effect with a nearly 20% decrease in the risk of developing the disease. We need further research to validate these candidate proteins in case-controlled cohorts of type I diabetes, but these proteins have the potential to advance precision medicine for individuals at risk of developing this condition."

The study was published in the November 10, 2021, online edition of the journal Diabetes Care.

Related Links:
University of Montreal


New
Gold Member
Automatic Hematology Analyzer
DH-800 Series
Portable Electronic Pipette
Mini 96
New
Gold Member
Hematology Analyzer
Medonic M32B
Autoimmune Disease Diagnostic
Chorus ds-DNA-G
Read the full article by registering today, it's FREE! It's Free!
Register now for FREE to LabMedica.com and get access to news and events that shape the world of Clinical Laboratory Medicine.
  • Free digital version edition of LabMedica International sent by email on regular basis
  • Free print version of LabMedica International magazine (available only outside USA and Canada).
  • Free and unlimited access to back issues of LabMedica International in digital format
  • Free LabMedica International Newsletter sent every week containing the latest news
  • Free breaking news sent via email
  • Free access to Events Calendar
  • Free access to LinkXpress new product services
  • REGISTRATION IS FREE AND EASY!
Click here to Register








Channels

Hematology

view channel
Image: New research points to protecting blood during radiation therapy (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

Pioneering Model Measures Radiation Exposure in Blood for Precise Cancer Treatments

Scientists have long focused on protecting organs near tumors during radiotherapy, but blood — a vital, circulating tissue — has largely been excluded from dose calculations. Each blood cell passing through... Read more

Immunology

view channel
Image: The VENTANA HER2 (4B5) test is now CE-IVDR approved (Photo courtesy of Roche)

Companion Diagnostic Test Identifies HER2-Ultralow Breast Cancer and Biliary Tract Cancer Patients

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Europe, with more than 564,000 new cases and 145,000 deaths annually. Metastatic breast cancer is rising in younger populations and remains the leading cause... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image: An adult fibrosarcoma case report has shown the importance of early diagnosis and targeted therapy (Photo courtesy of Sultana and Sailaja/Oncoscience)

Accurate Pathological Analysis Improves Treatment Outcomes for Adult Fibrosarcoma

Adult fibrosarcoma is a rare and highly aggressive malignancy that develops in connective tissue and often affects the limbs, trunk, or head and neck region. Diagnosis is complex because tumors can mimic... Read more

Technology

view channel
Image: Conceptual design of the CORAL capsule for microbial sampling in the small intestine (H. Mohammed et al., Device (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.device.2025.100904)

Coral-Inspired Capsule Samples Hidden Bacteria from Small Intestine

The gut microbiome has been linked to conditions ranging from immune disorders to mental health, yet conventional stool tests often fail to capture bacterial populations in the small intestine.... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2025 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.