Genomic Strategies Reveal Biomarkers Underlying Insulin Sensitivity As a Link Between Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes

A significant association between obesity and non-insulin dependent Diabetes mellitus (NIDDM, or Type 2 diabetes) phenotypes has been clearly documented in many separate studies.  One factor that is symptomatic for both disorders is insulin insensitivity.  Twin and family studies have indicated a clear genetic basis in inheriting insulin insensitivity in a variety of diseases and phenotypes. Recent findings imply that the association between obesity and NIDDM may be largely determined by genetic susceptibility. This project will use bioinformatic and comparative genomic strategies to identify some of the most important biomarkers involved in genetic susceptibility to insulin senstivity, an important common symptom of both obesity and NIDDM.  By using text-mining methodology developed by the Text-mined Hypertension, Obesity, and Diabetes Candidate Gene Database (T-HOD) database to identify all genes associated with susceptibility to NIDDM, obesity, and hypertension phenotypes.  The Top 10 genes associated with NIDDM, Obesity, Hypertension are ranked according to the number of publications found that associate them with the disease.   A total of 516 genes were found for NIDDM genes.  A total of 836 genes were found for obesity. A total of 838 genes were found for hypertension.  These results will be critically important components of a future personal genomics test for identifying susceptibility or predisposition to insluin sensitity, a common symptom of both obesity and NIDDM.