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Electrochemiluminescence Assays for Human Islet Autoantibodies
09:15

Electrochemiluminescence Assays for Human Islet Autoantibodies

Published on: March 23, 2018

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Serum fatty acids and risk of developing islet autoimmunity: A nested case-control study within the TRIGR birth

Leena Hakola1,2, Iris Erlund3, David Cuthbertson4

  • 1Unit of Health Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland.

Pediatric Diabetes
|February 5, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Specific circulating fatty acids like pentadecanoic acid and stearic acid are linked to a higher risk of islet autoimmunity in high-risk children. Further research is needed to understand their role in type 1 diabetes development.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Metabolic Research
  • Pediatric Autoimmunity

Background:

  • Circulating fatty acids are implicated in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes.
  • Understanding early-life risk factors for islet autoimmunity is crucial for prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prospective association between serum fatty acid profiles and the risk of developing islet autoimmunity in genetically susceptible infants.
  • To identify specific fatty acids that may serve as biomarkers for type 1 diabetes risk.

Main Methods:

  • A nested case-control study within the TRIGR cohort of high-risk infants (HLA-conferred susceptibility, family history of type 1 diabetes).
  • Serum fatty acid proportions (26 types) measured by gas-chromatography at cord blood, 6, 12, and 18 months.
  • Cases defined by positivity for at least two islet autoantibodies; controls matched for country and age.

Main Results:

  • Elevated proportions of pentadecanoic acid (15:0), heptadecanoic acid (iso 17:0 and anteiso 17:0), stearic acid (18:0), and conjugated linoleic acid (18:2n-7) were associated with increased islet autoimmunity risk.
  • Breastfeeding and absence of maternal type 1 diabetes correlated with higher levels of these risk-associated fatty acids.
  • No consistent association was observed for N-3 fatty acids.

Conclusions:

  • Pentadecanoic acid, heptadecanoic acid, stearic acid, and conjugated linoleic acid are directly associated with the risk of islet autoimmunity.
  • These findings highlight the potential role of specific fatty acids in type 1 diabetes development, warranting further investigation.
Abstract

Keywords:
HLAautoimmune diseasechildrendiabetes mellitus, type 1fatty acidsislet autoimmunity

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