HT25 Education Newsletter 2

Advancing Personalised Medicine in Type 2 Diabetes

Recent efforts in diabetes research are challenging the traditional classification system of type 2 diabetes, advocating for a more nuanced understanding based on molecular pathways rather than just clinical features. The Precision Medicine in Diabetes Initiative highlights the need for a framework that reflects the diverse mechanisms underlying diabetes, rather than categorizing it solely by hyperglycemia. This shift is especially important for type 2 diabetes, where diagnosis is often a result of exclusion, leading to generalized treatment approaches that do not account for individual disease mechanisms. 

To address this gap, various studies have developed methods to categorize type 2 diabetes using genetic and phenotypic data. Notable approaches include clustering techniques that define subgroups based on clinical features like insulin sensitivity, obesity, and insulin resistance, as well as more sophisticated tree-based algorithms. These methods aim to provide a more dynamic, individualized risk score by mapping individuals on a multidimensional continuum, reflecting their unique metabolic profiles. This precision-based approach not only offers insights into the progression of type 2 diabetes but also enhances the ability to tailor interventions to specific patient needs, marking a significant step forward in personalized medicine for diabetes management.

Read more about this here and here 

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Personalised Medicine: Transforming Metabolic Syndrome Management

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a significant global health challenge, serving as a major risk factor for conditions like type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Its development is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, and recent advances in genomics have revealed multiple genes involved in MetS' onset, including those related to obesity, lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity, blood pressure regulation, and inflammation. These molecular insights, combined with clinical data and methods like proteomics and metabolomics, are paving the way for personalized approaches to MetS management.

Personalized medicine is transforming how MetS is managed, offering tailored prevention and treatment strategies based on an individual's genetic predisposition. By leveraging genetic testing, healthcare providers can identify at-risk patients and recommend lifestyle modifications, therapeutic interventions, and medications more effectively. This approach not only enhances patient outcomes but also reduces the time, cost, and inefficiencies associated with traditional clinical trials, offering a more precise and cost-effective way to prevent, diagnose, and treat MetS.

Read more about this here.

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Metabolic Shifts in T Cells: A New Frontier in Immunotherapy

A recent study by the Salk Institute has uncovered a crucial link between cellular metabolism and immune cell function, specifically in T cells. T cells play a vital role in the immune response, with "effector" T cells actively fighting pathogens. However, in chronic conditions like HIV and cancer, these cells can become "exhausted," reducing their ability to combat disease. The research reveals that a metabolic shift from acetate to citrate is key to this transition from active to exhausted T cells. This metabolic change affects gene expression, altering the identity and function of the cells.

These findings open new possibilities for therapeutic interventions aimed at sustaining T cell activity in chronic diseases. By targeting nutrient-dependent pathways, scientists could potentially prevent T cell exhaustion, offering a promising strategy for improving immunotherapies. Professor Susan Kaech, the study’s senior author, highlighted the broader implications of this research, emphasizing the potential to develop more effective treatments for chronic infections and cancers by modulating metabolic pathways in immune cells.

Read more about this here.

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Podcast

Professor Andrew Hattersley and Professor Maggie Shepherd, University of Exeter

In this episode of One in Six Billion, Professors Andrew Hattersley and Maggie Shepherd delve into glucokinase MODY, a rare genetic form of diabetes. They discuss Andrew Lotery's journey from a misdiagnosed Type 2 diabetes case to an accurate diagnosis, made possible by the Exeter genetics team. Key research by Amanda Stride and Anna Steele revealed that glucokinase MODY results in stable fasting glucose levels from birth, requires no treatment, and doesn’t lead to complications. This episode underscores the profound impact of genetics in redefining the management of diabetes.

Podcast Link: Click here

Spotify: Click here