Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is one of the most common diseases in Mexico, where its incidence is higher than the global rate. The SIGMA project set out to systematically identify the genetic risk factors that contribute to this disparity, and translate those findings into improved methods of diabetes treatment and prevention.
In the first phase of the project, SIGMA scientists sequenced and characterized more than 10,000 tissue samples from Mexican and Mexican Americans. This unprecedented analysis led to the discovery of the first identified common genetic variant shown to predispose Latin American populations to the disease. This finding provides unique biological insight into T2D and may present opportunities for therapeutic research and development.
Going forward, SIGMA is focused on completing the genetic analysis of T2D in Mexico, and translating this knowledge into more effective new approaches to prevention and treatment.
Publications
- Diabetes, Nov 2017: A Loss-of-Function Splice Acceptor Variant in IGF2 Is Protective for Type 2 Diabetes.
- Cell, June 2017: Type 2 Diabetes Variants Disrupt Function of SLC16A11 through Two Distinct Mechanisms.
- Cell Metabolism, April 2015: IGF2BP2/IMP2-deficient mice resist obesity through enhanced translation of Ucp1 mRNA and other mRNAs encoding mitochondrial proteins
- Cell Metabolism, January 2015: High-throughput luminescent reporter of insulin secretion for discovering regulators of pancreatic beta-cell function
- PNAS, July 2014: Rare variants in PPARG with decreased activity in adipocyte differentiation are associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes
- JAMA, June 2014: Association of a low-frequency variant in HNF1A with type 2 diabetes in a Latino population
- Nature, December 2013: Sequence variants in SLC16A11 are a common risk factor for type 2 diabetes in Mexico
