Tracking new biomarkers for type 2 diabetes disease progression and treatment monitoring
Overview
Relying on Caprion’s CellCarta proteomics technology to develop panels of protein diabetes biomarkers, this project will improve early diagnosis and monitor disease progression, as well as, evaluate therapeutic response.
This ambitious project, conducted by Dr. Paramithiotis, has 2 specific objectives: i) to identify and validate protein biomarker candidates associated with the mass and the functional state of pancreatic beta-cells, which play a critical role in the development of type 2 diabetes, and ii) to identify and complete early stage evaluation of protein biomarker candidates that can be used to monitor type 2 diabetes treatment efficacy. Using Caprion’s CellCarta proteomic platform, the team conducted an extensive analysis of pancreatic proteins secreted normally and under disease conditions from humans and several animal models of diabetes. Using three different experimental models (mouse and rat beta cell lines and human pancreatic islets), the team identified a promising dataset of candidate biomarkers for both beta cell mass and function. The proteins identified were grouped as a network and the main pathways found are derived from i) mechanisms of secretion, ii) lipid metabolism, and iii) carbohydrate metabolism. “The set of biomarkers identified during the discovery phase is impressive. All the assays we are currently developing could become the basis of diagnostic tests to monitor pre-diabetes, enable targeted therapies, and monitor beta-cell status in transplant patients,” declares Dr. Eustache Paramithiotis. The biomarkers are currently being validated in humans as well as diabetes animal models.
Impact on the drug discovery process
- Address the current bottleneck in diabetes drug discovery by allowing the development of anti-diabetic therapeutics targeting ß-cell dysfunction
- Develop more effective and early-stage therapeutics by measuring the deterioration of ß-cell function/number, much before the onset of overt hyperglycemia in individuals who are suspected to be at high risk
Key facts
- Currently 246 million people suffer from diabetes worldwide. It is estimated that this number will increase to 380 million by 2025
- At least 50% of the diabetics do not know about their condition. In certain countries this number attains 80%
- Diabetes has been qualified as an «Economic Tsunami» and it is estimated that it will cost 17 billion dollars to Canadians before 2020
- Diabetes significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, as well as kidney, eye and central nervous system diseases
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