Researchers in Professor P-O Berggren’s group proposed utilizing InSight Technology to answer questions of islet development during infancy and puberty and to describe a ”point-of-no-return” for islet development programming. The commentary is published in Molecular Metabolism in January 2013.
Genes and obesity are two major factors that contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, it is known that genetic factors alone explain only a minor part of T2D. At the same time, it is not clear of how obesity influences the development of the disease.
Researchers in Professor P-O Berggren’s group reflect upon an article by Comstock et al. published in Molecular Metabolism in January 2013. The article makes a direct connection between the high-calorie consumption and development of T2D in non-human primates. The main finding is that switching to normal diet normalized the insulin producing islets in the offspring previously fed by high-calorie consuming mothers.
In the commentary, researchers in Professor Berggren’s group propose to continue describing islet development during infancy and puberty using the InSight Technology. This method is non-invasive, longitudinal and already adapted to studying pancreatic islets in non-human primates. Definition of a “point-of-no-return” in the islet development programming could be achieved using this unique platform.
The commentary is published in Molecular Metabolism in January 2013.