American scientists have discovered genetic causes of the development of type 2 diabetes in obesity, reports PhysOrg. Report on the study of a team of specialists led by Jane J (Jane J. Kim) from the University of California at San Diego (University of California, San Diego) published in The Journal of the American of Societies of Experimental Biology.

Researchers from San Diego found that about 2-3 million years ago there was a mutation of the human gene CMAH. As a result, the synthesis of neuraminic acids Neu5Ac and Neu5Gc, which are part of the insulin receptors located on the surface of cell membranes. The body of most mammals, unlike humans, independently produces these acids.

Kim and her colleagues conducted a series of experiments on laboratory mice. Scientists have introduced into the genome of half the animals a mutation CMAH, similar to human. Another part of the mice remained with a normally functioning gene. After this, the rodents were fed food with a high fat content.

As a result, all mice developed obesity, and their cells acquired resistance to the action of insulin. However, in animals with the mutation of the CMAH gene, the area of ??the Langerhans islets of the pancreas producing insulin decreased by 65 percent, and the number of these islets was halved. In mice with a normal gene, no such changes were observed.

The results of the study indicate that conventional animals are not suitable for studying the mechanisms of development of diabetes in humans. According to Kim, in the course of further research, scientists are going to find out how neuraminic acids affect the vital functions of the cells of the islets of Langerhans. Scientists hope that understanding these processes will help change the approach to the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

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