News & Research
Attie, Alan D., PhD
Genetics and Genomics of Type 2 Diabetes
Focus: Genetics Type 2 Diabetes, Integrated Physiology, Islet Biology
Type of Grant: Mentor Based Postdoctoral Fellowship
Project Start Date: July 1, 2007
Project End Date: June 30, 2011
Research Description
Although most people who are afflicted with type 2 diabetes are obese, most obese people do not develop diabetes. The laboratory of Alan Attie has reproduced this dichotomy in mice by studying two mouse strains that when made obese, differ in diabetes susceptibility. The objective of this work is to identify the genes responsible for the difference in diabetes susceptibility of the two mouse strains. The premise for this work is that the same genes or the same pathways might be involved in human diabetes. Indeed, a gene identified in these mouse studies this past year, called 'SorCS1', has recently been shown to be associated with diabetes in several human populations. The Attie laboratory also uses other methods for finding genes related to diabetes. These methods exploit technology that can comprehensively assess the level at which virtually any gene in the genome is being expressed. By taking advantage of the genetic model system, the laboratory is finding genetically controlled networks of genes that are coordinately dysregulated in tissues that play a key role in diabetes progression. There is a good likelihood that some of the genes or pathways identified in these studies can be targeted with new therapeutic agents to prevent or ameliorate diabetes.Reseacher Profile
Mentor: Allan Attie Fellow: Enpeng Zhao
What area of diabetes research does your project cover? What role will this particular project play in preventing, treating and/or curing diabetes? Most people with type 2 diabetes are obese. Yet, most obese people do not develop diabetes. We wish identify genes that affect diabetes susceptibility of obese people. We have developed an animal model that will help us to study the differences between animals that can remain obese without developing diabetes and those that do develop diabetes. These studies are identifying key tissues and pathways that are involved in diabetes susceptibility.
If a person with diabetes were to ask you how your project will help them in the future, how would you respond? 1. Finding new genes and pathways relevant to diabetes susceptibility can refine the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. If we area able to break down the disease into sub-categories, then we might be able to do a better job targeting specific therapeutics for particular patients. 2. Sometimes, a new gene or pathway presents a novel drug target. Specifically, many of our studies are focused on the pancreatic -cell, which most diabetologists now agree, is a key player in the development of type 2 diabetes. Thus, therapies that will help support -cell function will be very important in the future treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Why is it important for you, personally, to become involved in diabetes research? What role will this award play in your research efforts? I have worked on various aspects of metabolism throughout my research career. Ten years ago, I began working on diabetes and learned to use mouse genetics as a tool to investigate this disease. There is a shortage of people who are able to combine metabolism and genetics, thus I hope to train new investigators who will fill this critical need.
In what direction do you see the future of diabetes research going? I expect to identify numerous candidate genes that might be helpful in generating new diagnostics and/or treatments for type 2 diabetes. My research will emphasize the use of animal models to carry out proof of principle experiments on these candidate genes.
