Adipose tissue epitranscriptomic predictors of type 2 diabetes.

Adipose Tissue Epitranscriptomic Signatures as Predictors of Type 2 Diabetes in Individuals with Obesity

Obesity is a major health problem and one of the strongest risk factors for type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, not everyone with obesity develops diabetes, and today we cannot reliably predict who will. This limits our ability to prevent the disease early and to offer more personalized care.

Our research focuses on fat tissue, which plays an important role in controlling blood sugar and insulin. Inside cells, genes are first copied into RNA before making proteins. These RNA molecules can carry small chemical marks that influence how genes work. This process is called epitranscriptomics and has been very little studied in obesity and diabetes.

In earlier work, we showed that one such RNA mark differs between fat tissues and is linked to blood sugar levels and insulin resistance. This suggests that these RNA marks may help explain why some people with obesity develop diabetes while others do not. Importantly, there are many different types of RNA marks, but most of them have never been studied
in human fat tissue.

In this project, we will use a new sequencing technology to measure several RNA marks in two types of fat tissue from people with obesity, both with and without diabetes. By comparing these groups, we aim to identify patterns that are linked to diabetes risk. Our long-term goal is to use this knowledge to develop simple tests, for example using blood samples, that can help identify people at high risk of diabetes and support earlier, more precise prevention strategies.