Galectin-1 linked to increased risk of typediabetes

Date:
November 8, 2021
Source:
University of Gothenburg
Summary:
Researchers now associate elevated levels of the protein galectin-1
with increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes about 18 years
later. At the same time, this protein seems to be a protective
factor for the kidneys among type 2 diabetes patients at high risk
for diabetic nephropathy.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Researchers at the University of Gothenburg now associate elevated
levels of the protein galectin-1 with increased risk of developing type
2 diabetes about 18 years later. At the same time, this protein seems
to be a protective factor for the kidneys among type 2 diabetes patients
at high risk for diabetic nephropathy.


========================================================================== Findings of the study, a collaboration with researchers at Lund
University, have been published in the journal Diabetologia. The
researchers point to both negative and positive links between the protein galectin-1 and type 2 diabetes.

In a general population, galectin-1 may be associated with an increased
risk of diabetes, but in patients with a subtype of diabetes that
increases the risk of kidney damage, galectin-1 appears to be beneficial,
as patients with high galectin-1 levels in their blood suffer less
kidney damage.

"This is probably not as strange as it might sound. My own personal
theory is that the actions of galectin-1 found in the kidney are linked to inflammatory processes, whereas the actions of galectin-1 in the adipose
tissue appear to be largely linked to metabolic processes. Thus, we can
expect to see different mechanisms at work and different outcomes for the
same protein," says Emanuel Fryk, one of the study's lead authors. Fryk
is a resident physician in general medicine and a doctoral student at Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.

Counteracts inflammation Galectin-1, a protein expressed by fat
cells as well as other cells, is involved in both the regulation of inflammation and the function of fat cells in the body. Five years ago,
the research team at the University of Gothenburg presented results
from a study of individuals with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and
healthy controls. They proposed that the protein could be involved in pathophysiological mechanisms in the adipose tissue in type 2 diabetes development. Later the team also showed that the protein was linked to
higher insulin levels in the blood of one thousand participants in a
study known as the Swedish CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS). The
protein was associated with increased insulin levels after adjusting
the analysis for known risk factors in type 2 diabetes, such as obesity,
age, and gender.

In the Malmo" Diet and Cancer Study, the researchers have now been able
to confirm that galectin-1 plays a significant role in disease development
in type 2 diabetes. In this large population study, participants are also followed over time. The study incorporates analyses of blood samples from
more than 4,000 participants, collected between 1991 and 1994. Galectin-1 levels in blood samples was analyzed in order to assess the relation to
risk of developing type 2 diabetes, around 18 years after the sample was initially collected. The authors do not propose that galectin-1 should
become a new tool in primary care to predict who will develop diabetes,
but this is a step forward in better understanding the disease.

"This is an important piece of the puzzle in the research field on
why obesity is such a big risk factor for the disease. It is a new
clue for scientist trying to find out exactly what happens in the
body of individuals with obesity who later develop type 2 diabetes."
Protection from renal failure Type 2 diabetes is a complex disease, in
which many factors contribute to the development of the disease. One of
the most serious complications is chronic kidney disease, which about
half of those who have type 2 diabetes develop. The organ damage is
permanent and can lead to premature death. For that reason, researchers
also looked more closely at those afflicted with kidney disease and
found links to galectin-1 also in this context. By combining genetic
analyses and measurements of galectin-1, they could examine the genetic
link between galectin-1 and developing diabetes and kidney disease
in another Scania based study, but only including individuals with
diabetes: the All New Diabetics in Scania (ANDIS) study. The ANDIS
study has previously proposed that diabetes can be separated into five subgroups, with one group at significantly higher risk of diabetic renal disease. The subgroup, labeled SIRD (severe insulin-resistant diabetes),
is characterized by excess weight and severe insulin resistance.

Based on analysis from the ANDIS study, the researchers now show that
elevated levels of galectin-1 may offer protection against kidney damage
for this group of patients.

"In two large population-based cohorts in southern Sweden, we demonstrate
that galectin-1 is linked to renal function and has potentially
prophylactic effects against renal failure among some patients with
type 2 diabetes. This puts a new candidate on the table that should be
studied as a potential target when developing future pharmaceuticals." ========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Gothenburg. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Isabel Drake, Emanuel Fryk, Lena Strindberg, Annika Lundqvist,
Anders H.

Rosengren, Leif Groop, Emma Ahlqvist, Jan Bore'n, Marju
Orho-Melander, Per-Anders Jansson. The role of circulating
galectin-1 in type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease: evidence
from cross-sectional, longitudinal and Mendelian randomisation
analyses. Diabetologia, 2021; DOI: 10.1007/ s00125-021-05594-1 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/11/211108094238.htm

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