Now, researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the University of California, Los Angeles, have found that variations in four genes that control inflammation are linked to insulin resistance, the precursor of diabetes, in Mexican Americans. Their findings, reported at the American Diabetes Association's 65th Annual Scientific Sessions, may enable physicians to identify patients at the highest risk for developing diabetes and to design therapies that target these genes to prevent insulin resistance.
"This study is the first to show that four inflammatory pathway genes IL4, IL4R, IL6 and C5 contribute to the development of insulin resistance," said Jerome I. Rotter, M.D., director of research, Medical Genetics Institute at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Low-grade inflammation originates in numerous places throughout the body, including excess fat, and is often triggered by some type of injury or infection. In heart disease, the idea is that the coronary arteries become inflamed, causing the plaque or fatty build-up in the arteries to rupture. But because the inflammation is internal and not "seen," doctors use a simple blood test to measure for high levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) a marker for inflammation. High levels of CRP are linked to an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes and more recently, insulin resistance.
Insulin, which is secreted by the pancreas, helps cells to take in glucose and convert it to energy. Insulin resistance occurs when muscle, fat, and liver cells do no
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Contact: Kelli Hanley
kelli.hanley@cshs.org
310-423-3674
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
11-Jun-2005