New clues to how gene affects women's diabetes risk

Studies have shown that women with larger hips tend to have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, and now scientists are getting a clearer picture of the genetics behind it all.
Recent research has shown that a variant in a gene called KLF14 is associated with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It also seems to be a master regulator of how and where a woman's body stores fat: Women with one particular "allele," or version, of the gene variant tend to have slimmer hips, while women with another are more "pear-shaped."
Now a team of international researchers has discovered more about how the gene variant works: It appears to regulate hundreds of other genes active in fat cells, and it changes the structure and function of those cells.
The findings offer clues as to why narrow hips have the unfortunate side effect of an increased diabetes risk, the researchers reported.
"Most genes that have been associated with type 2 diabetes are related to the pancreas," said lead researcher Kerrin Small, a genomics researcher at King's College London in England. "What's different about the KLF14 gene is that it's expressed in fat tissue." That suggests that variations in the gene affect people's sensitivity to insulin, Small explained. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar; type 2 diabetes develops when the body becomes less responsive to insulin -- causing levels of both the hormone and blood sugar to soar.
Obesity is a key risk factor for type 2 diabetes, but body fat distribution is also important: People who carry their weight around the middle are particularly at risk of diabetes, as well as heart disease.
"Differences in KLF14 variants do not affect overall body weight," Small pointed out. "They're only related to body fat distribution."
Small was to present her findings Saturday at the annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, in Baltimore. Research presented at meetings should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
So, why do the genetics of hip size and diabetes matter? "No, you can't do anything about your genes," Small acknowledged.
However, she said, gene studies allow researchers to get at the roots of the underlying disease process -- and can potentially lead to new diabetes therapies down the road.
Health Day

 

New clues to how gene affects womens diabetes risk

Studies have shown that women with larger hips tend to have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, and now scientists are getting a clearer picture of the genetics behind it all. Recent research has shown that a variant in a gene called KLF14 is associated with the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. It also seems to be a master regulator of how and where a womans body stores fat: Women with one particular allele, or version, of the gene variant tend to have slimmer hips, while women with another are more pear-shaped. Now a team of international researchers has discovered more about how the gene variant works: It appears to regulate hundreds of other genes active in fat cells, and it changes the structure and function of those cells. The findings offer clues as to why narrow hips have the unfortunate side effect of an increased diabetes risk, the researchers reported. Most genes that have been associated with type 2 diabetes are related to the pancreas, said lead researcher Kerrin Small, a genomics researcher at Kings College London in England. Whats different about the KLF14 gene is that its expressed in fat tissue. That suggests that variations in the gene affect peoples sensitivity to insulin, Small explained. Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar; type 2 diabetes develops when the body becomes less responsive to insulin -- causing levels of both the hormone and blood sugar to soar. Obesity is a key risk factor for type 2 diabetes, but body fat distribution is also important: People who carry their weight around the middle are particularly at risk of diabetes, as well as heart disease. Differences in KLF14 variants do not affect overall body weight, Small pointed out. Theyre only related to body fat distribution. Small was to present her findings Saturday at the annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, in Baltimore. Research presented at meetings should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. So, why do the genetics of hip size and diabetes matter? No, you cant do anything about your genes, Small acknowledged. However, she said, gene studies allow researchers to get at the roots of the underlying disease process -- and can potentially lead to new diabetes therapies down the road. Health Day