The progress and potential of proteomic biomarkers for type 1 diabetes in children

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Although it is possible to identify the genetic risk for type 1 diabetes (T1D), it is not possible to predict who will develop the disease. New biomarkers are needed that would help understand the mechanisms of disease onset and when to administer targeted therapies and interventions.

Areas covered: An overview is presented of international study efforts towards understanding the cause of T1D, including the collection of several extensive temporal sample series that follow the development of T1D in at risk children. The results of the proteomics analysis of these materials are presented, which have included bodily fluids, such as serum or plasma and urine, as well as tissue samples from the pancreas.

Expert commentary: Promising recent reports have indicated detection of early proteomic changes in the serum of patients prior to diagnosis, potentially providing new measures for risk assessment. Similarly, there has been evidence that post-translational modification (PTM) may result in the recognition of islet cell proteins as autoantigens; modified proteins could thus be used as targets for immunomodulation to overcome the threat of the autoimmune response.

KEYWORDS:

• Autoantibodies
• beta cells
• biobanks
• biomarkers
• human leukocyte antigen
• islets of langerhans
• type 1 diabetes

Acknowledgements

The National Technology Agency of Finland (Finland Distinguished Professor Programme, grant 40398/11), the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF, 17-2011-586), the Academy of Finland (Centre of Excellence in Molecular Systems Immunology and Physiology Research (grant 250114), and Biocenter Finland (Turku Proteomics Facility) are thanked for their financial support.

Declaration of interest

​The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

The National Technology Agency of Finland (grants 40453/04, 40229/08, and 40398/11), the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF, 17-2011-586), the Academy of Finland (Centre of Excellence in Molecular Systems Immunology and Physiology Research, grant 250114), and Biocentre Finland (Turku Proteomics Facility) are thanked for their financial support.​