IIT Madras research team identifies gene/protein variation that increases risk of metabolic diseases
15% of Indian and other South Asian populations had this variation and that people carrying this variant are 1.5 times more likely to have hypertension, Type-2 Diabetes, coronary artery disease
An Indian Institute of Technology Madras-led International Research Team has identified a gene/protein variation present among Indians and other South Asians that increased their risk of diabetes, heart attacks and hypertension.
The multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary team of researchers found that this variation was present in approximately 15 per cent of Indian and other South Asian populations. The researchers also found that people carrying this variant are 1.5 times more likely to have hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and coronary artery disease. This combination could account for the higher prevalence of metabolic diseases among Indians and other South Asians.
The research was led by Prof Nitish R Mahapatra, Department of Biotechnology, Bhupat and Jyoti Mehta School of Biosciences, IIT Madras. The Research Paper was co-authored by researchers from International Research Institutions including Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, US; Joslin Diabetes Center, Harvard Medical School, U.S.; University of Maryland Baltimore School of Medicine, US; and Indian Institutions including CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow; Dr ALM PG Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Chennai; Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh; Madras Medical College and Government General Hospital; Madras Medical Mission; Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, and National Brain Research Centre, Haryana.
The study showed that the variant peptide had a higher affinity to the insulin receptor in cells, which prevents insulin from binding to the receptor of the cells for glucose uptake. This results in a higher risk of insulin resistance and diabetes among people who carry the variant of this peptide.
