Research on Diabetes

India, China and the United States are estimated to have the highest number of people with diabetes. Apart from environmental factors that contribute to Type 2 diabetes such as obesity , smoking , sedentary lifestyle, and certain drugs; genetic factors also play a role in the onset of this disease.



Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, Prof. M.Viswanathan Diabetes Research Centre & M.V. Hospital for Diabetes has researched diabetes from a genetic perspective and has found that there are changes in some genes in diabetic individuals. The information from these studies could be used for identifying precursors to diabetic conditions or its complications and people at risk could be assisted before the disease strikes or gets more acute!



Heat Shock Protein-70 (HSP70) a protein which is very active in the immune system is suppressed in people with diabetes because of cellular stress. Western studies have reported the association of this gene (HSP70) in diabetic individuals through its effect on insulin sensitivity.

Our researchers studied this effect on T2DM and its complications among South Indian population and have found the mutation of this gene in T2DM and in those with both micro- and macro vascular complications.

This novel gene could be used as a marker to identify people with increased risk of diabetes and its complications and take precautionary action at an early stage.

STRE in the LASY promoter region is important for the synthesis of Lipoic Acid Synthase gene which produces Lipoic Acid that acts as an antioxidant. Under normal conditions, Stress Response Element binds to STRE site and helps in the production of antioxidant enzymes such as Catalase LASY which helps to control oxidative stress.

Our researchers have found that in the case of T2DM with complications- neuropathy, nephropathy or retinopathy, this enzyme production is reduced due to single nucleotide polymorphism.

This provides vast scope for further investigation into the use of this information in treating complications of diabetes.

Dhamodharan U, Ezhilarasi K, Parthiban M, Indira Padmalayam, Rama Rajaram, Vijay Viswanathan

(Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Genetics, Prof. M.Viswanathan Diabetes Research Centre & M.V. Hospital for Diabetes in collaboraton with Department of Biochemistry & Biomaterials, Central Leather Research Institute , Adyar, Chennai.)