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Biomarker will help to diagnose diabetes long before its appearance
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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When a person is diagnosed with " diabetes mellitus, " as a rule, the disease is already progressing and has time to damage the body.
Swedish scientists from Lund University conducted a study, through which they were able to detect a blood biomarker, indicating that its owner belongs to the group at increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It can be identified many years before the disease is diagnosed.
"Our team found that people who have an amount of protein called SFRP4 in their blood above the average, are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes five times more. And the development of diabetes can be expected in the coming years, "says Dr. Anders Rosengren, head of the study.
This is the first time that a connection has been established between the SFRP4 protein, which plays an important role in the inflammatory processes in the body, and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
In the course of the study, the specialists conducted a comparative analysis of insulin-producing beta cells of diabetics and cells of people who do not suffer from this disease. Experts found that patients with diabetes have a higher amount of SFRP4 protein, which contributes to the occurrence of inflammatory processes. Chronic inflammations negatively affect the beta cells, weakening them and they can not produce enough insulin.
Every three years, scientists measured the level of SFRP4 in the blood of people who do not have diabetes. During the study, diabetes mellitus developed in 37% of participants. They had an increased concentration of proteins at the beginning of the research. Among those who had a lower SFRP4 level, only 9% of participants became diabetic.
Specialists called the protein SFRP4 "a biomarker of risk."
According to scientists, the results obtained by them can be an impetus to the development of new methods for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Experts suggest that one of the ways of such treatment will be protein blocking in beta cells producing insulin, which will reduce inflammation and protect cells.
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