Targeted proteomics identifies potential biomarkers of dysglycaemia, beta cell function and insulin sensitivity in Black African men and women – published online 17/09/2022

Amy E. Mendham, Lisa K. Micklesfield, Fredrik Karpe, Andre Pascal Kengne, Tinashe Chikowore, Clement N. Kufe, Maphoko Masemola, Nigel J. Crowther, Shane A. Norris, Tommy Olsson, Sölve Elmståhl, Tove Fall, Lars Lind, Julia H. Goedecke

The pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes appears to differ between Black Africans and Europeans, but the diagnostic criteria are the same. In this issue, Mendham et al (https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-022-05788-1) highlight biomarkers that are both similar and different between Black African and European cohorts who have different lifestyles and sociodemographic profiles. The authors identified 73 proteins associated with impaired glucose metabolism and/or type 2 diabetes in a cohort of middle-aged Black South African men and women, of which 34 proteins were validated in a European cohort. Among the validated proteins, 11 were associated with components of type 2 diabetes pathophysiology such as fasting insulin resistance, peripheral insulin sensitivity and beta cell function. The African-specific biomarkers identified require validation in independent African cohorts to not only identify unique risk markers, but also to increase our understanding of the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes in African populations.

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