New biomarkers of insulin resistance - version 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Identification of new biomarkers of insulin resistance
IRAS ID
233161
Contact name
Francoise Koumanov
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease affecting 415 million people worldwide; 90% of cases are type 2 which is frequently associated with obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. In healthy individuals, insulin stimulates increased expression of a glucose transporter (GLUT4) on muscle and fat tissue to decrease blood sugar levels. Loss of this response ('insulin resistance') frequently occurs before the development of type 2 diabetes. Understanding the cell biology of insulin resistance is necessary to develop more effective treatments for the condition. Previous work from our group showed that translocation of GLUT4 is dependent on a small protein called Rab3 (Koumanov et al, 2015). Cell models suggest Rab3 is downregulated in insulin resistance and is also sensitive to inflammation, a state that is exacerbated by obesity.
In order to confirm the role of Rab3 in human GLUT4 transport we aim to measure the levels of this protein and its interactors in fat and muscle samples from insulin resistant individuals. Insulin sensitivity can be improved in as little as three weeks when net energy intake is sufficiently reduced (Walhin et al, 2016). Therefore, by taking the same measurements before and after this three week intervention we can observe any changes in protein expression and insulin sensitivity at a cellular level.
We are also interested in the changes that take place in the gut microbiome following an improvement in insulin sensitivity, which can be determined from faecal samples taken before and after the intervention.
We plan to recruit 30 overweight males and females (40-65 years) who will visit the laboratory at the University of Bath twice; pre-post a 21 day period. Participants will be randomly allocated 1:2 to a control or intervention group. The latter will consume a diet reduced by 5000 kcal/week and take part in five intensive exercise sessions per week.
REC name
Wales REC 7
REC reference
17/WA/0422
Date of REC Opinion
13 Dec 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion