Targeted Proteomics Reveals Functional Targets for Early Diabetes Susceptibility in Young Adults

The circulating proteome may encode early pathways of diabetes susceptibility in young adults for surveillance and intervention. Here, we define proteomic correlates of tissue phenotypes and diabetes in young adults.

We used penalized models and principal components analysis to generate parsimonious proteomic signatures of diabetes susceptibility based on phenotypes and on diabetes diagnosis across 184 proteins in >2000 young adults in the CARDIA (Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study; mean age, 32 years; 44% women; 43% Black; mean body mass index, 25.6±4.9 kg/m²), with validation against diabetes in >1800 individuals in the FHS (Framingham Heart Study) and WHI (Women's Health Initiative).

In 184 proteins in >2000 young adults in CARDIA, we identified 2 proteotypes of diabetes susceptibility-a proinflammatory fat proteotype (visceral fat, liver fat, inflammatory biomarkers) and a muscularity proteotype (muscle mass), linked to diabetes in CARDIA and WHI/FHS. These proteotypes specified broad mechanisms of early diabetes pathogenesis, including transorgan communication, hepatic and skeletal muscle stress responses, vascular inflammation and hemostasis, fibrosis, and renal injury. Using human adipose tissue single cell/nuclear RNA-seq, we demonstrate expression at transcriptional level for implicated proteins across adipocytes and nonadipocyte cell types (eg, fibroadipogenic precursors, immune and vascular cells). Using functional assays in human adipose tissue, we demonstrate the association of expression of genes encoding these implicated proteins with adipose tissue metabolism, inflammation, and insulin resistance.

A multifaceted discovery effort uniting proteomics, underlying clinical susceptibility phenotypes, and tissue expression patterns may uncover potentially novel functional biomarkers of early diabetes susceptibility in young adults for future mechanistic evaluation.