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Type 2 diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases globally and in the United States and is often associated with multiple co-morbidities or complications.
The mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) is a highly conserved protein that controls energy metabolism and is affected in chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cardiometabolic diseases.
For a study published in Scientific Reports, CUNY SPH faculty Drs. Ghada Soliman and Mary Schooling used Mendelian randomization, a study design that avoids confounding by leveraging the random allocation of genetic material at conception, to compare the effects on type 2 diabetes of genetically predicted exposure to mTOR targets EIF-4E and EIF-4A.
This unbiased Mendelian randomization estimate is consistent with a protective effect of EIF-4E and EIF-4A on type 2 diabetes. EIF-4E and EIF-4A may be targeted for intervention by repurposing existing therapeutics to reduce type 2 diabetes risk.
“Defining the role of mTOR downstream effectors’ enhances our understanding of the mechanisms involved in type 2 diabetes occurrence,” Dr. Soliman explains.”The EIF-4E and EIF-4A are factors that initiate the translation of RNA to protein synthesis, which may play a role in controlling glucose metabolism and diabetes. This information can help to prioritize the selection of interventions for testing in clinical trials of type 2 diabetes prevention or treatment.”
