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Molecular clocks, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease
Madhu J Prasai1, Jyothis T George, Eleanor M Scott
1Division of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research, The Leeds Institute of Genetics Health and Therapeutics, Clarendon Way, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK.
Diabetes & Vascular Disease Research
|June 10, 2008
Summary
Circadian rhythm disruption, influenced by environmental and genetic factors, is increasingly linked to the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Understanding the molecular clock
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology and Metabolism
- Chronobiology
- Public Health
Background:
- The Western world faces an epidemic of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, sharing a common basis in insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome.
- Environmental changes interacting with genetic predisposition are driving these increases.
- Biological processes are intrinsically tied to the Earth's 24-hour light-dark cycle, regulated by an endogenous molecular clock.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on the role of circadian rhythm disruption in the pathogenesis of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.
- To explore the interplay between the molecular clock, environmental factors, and disease development.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent epidemiological evidence.
- Analysis of animal data.
- Synthesis of current scientific literature on circadian rhythms and metabolic disease.
Main Results:
- Disturbance of circadian rhythms, affecting the molecular clock, is implicated in the development of obesity.
- Evidence suggests a pivotal role for circadian disruption in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes.
- Circadian rhythm dysfunction is increasingly recognized as a factor in cardiovascular disease development.
Conclusions:
- Disruption of the body's internal clock is a significant factor in the current epidemics of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
- Environmental and genetic influences on the molecular clock are critical areas for future research and potential therapeutic interventions.
- Maintaining circadian rhythm integrity is crucial for metabolic and cardiovascular health.
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