Researchers identify a metabolite as a biomarker of diabetes risk
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is the most common form of diabetes and is associated with many complications. T2D is preventable through weight control and exercise; however, many individuals are unaware that they are at risk and do not change their lifestyle in time to avoid disease. In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Robert Gerszten and colleagues at Massachusetts General Hospital identify the metabolite 2-aminoadipic acid (2-AAA) as a biomarker for T2D diabetes risk. Individuals with increased levels of 2-AAA had a much greater risk of developing diabetes than individuals with lower 2-AAA levels. The authors found that this metabolite was present in at-risk individuals up to 12 years before to T2D onset. Additionally, addition of 2-AAA to isolated pancreatic cells from both mice and humans enhanced insulin secretion. This study provides a biomarker of T2D risk that is a potential therapeutic target for the regulation of glucose homeostasis.
TITLE: 2-Aminoadipic acid is a biomarker for diabetes risk
AUTHOR CONTACT: Robert E. Gerszten Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, USA Phone: 617-724-8322; Fax: 617-726-1544; E-mail: RGERSZTEN@PARTNERS.ORG
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/64801?key=174fdbca12771be4333b
Genotype influences muscle performance
Elite endurance athletes commonly have mutations that result in the loss of the protein α-actinin-3, which is a major component of fast-twitch muscle fibers. Loss of α-actinin-3 is associated with reduced power, increased endurance capacity, and enhanced response to endurance training. In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Kathryn North and colleagues at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute report that the loss of α-actinin-3 in fast-twitch muscle fibers, results in compensation by α-actinin-2. The presence of α-actinin-2 in fast-twitch muscle contributed to reprogramming these muscles through increased calcineurin signaling. This study provides insight into how mutations in the gene encoding α-actinin-3 promote skeletal muscle adaptations that are advantageous to elite endurance athletes
TITLE: ACTN3 genotype influences muscle performance through the regulation of calcineurin signaling
AUTHOR CONTACT: Kathryn North Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, UNK, AUS Phone: 61-3-8341-6226; Fax: 61-3-9348-1391; E-mail: kathryn.north@mcri.edu.au
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/67691?key=56ae65251668e68f1365
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
TITLE: Radiation-induced acid ceramidase confers prostate cancer resistance and tumor relapse
AUTHOR CONTACT: Xiang Liu Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA Phone: 843-792-8499; E-mail: liux@musc.edu
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/64791?key=33fb88a91ba4be40201d
TITLE: Integrins protect cardiomyocytes from ischemia/reperfusion injury
AUTHOR CONTACT: Robert Ross UCSD / VA Healthcare San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA Phone: 858-642-1138; Fax: 858-642-1199; E-mail: rross@ucsd.edu
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/64216?key=e8e6af4e23435ac156c4
TITLE: Pak and Rac GTPases promote oncogenic KIT-induced neoplasms
AUTHOR CONTACT: Reuben Kapur Indiana University School of Medicine, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric , Indianapolis, IN, USA Phone: 317-274-4658; Fax: 317-274-8679; E-mail: rkapur@iupui.edu
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/67509?key=24e726058175dbdba5b3
TITLE: Myeloid-derived suppressor cell development is regulated by a STAT-IRF-8 Axis
AUTHOR CONTACT: Scott Abrams Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA Phone: 716-845-4375; E-mail: Scott.Abrams@RoswellPark.org
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/68189?key=80115473c2ff550aa400
TITLE: Maternal uterine NK cell–activating receptor KIR2DS1 enhances placentation
AUTHOR CONTACT: Ashley Moffett Department of Pathology, Cambridge CB2 1QP, , GBR Phone: 01223-333727; Fax: 01223-765065; E-mail: am485@cam.ac.uk
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/68991?key=fc35e5ed4594967662fd
TITLE: p16INK4a protects against dysfunctional telomere–induced ATR-dependent DNA damage responses
AUTHOR CONTACT: Sandy Chang Yale University School Of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA Phone: 203-737-4667; E-mail: schang@yale.edu
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/69574?key=ef90170fda08456e9bb8
TITLE: Inhibiting glycolytic metabolism enhances CD8+ T cell memory and antitumor function
AUTHOR CONTACT: Luca Gattinoni NCI, Bethesda, MD, USA Phone: 301-451-6914; E-mail: gattinol@mail.nih.gov
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/69589?key=7e34837159d36216bbd4
TITLE: Blood pressure homeostasis is maintained by a P311–TGF-β axis
AUTHOR CONTACT: Lucia Schuger The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA Phone: 773-702-4784; Fax: 773-795-6357; E-mail: lschuger@bsd.uchicago.edu
View this article at: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/69884?key=54f3c5a99261ca71485e