Type 2 diabetes pathophysiology

Professor, chief physician, DMSc Allan Vaag heads this group consisting of 25 members – academics, technicians, a nurse and a personal assistant.

The line of research
The research profile includes the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the development of type 2 diabetes. The line of research is based on an understanding of type 2 diabetes as a complex, multifactorial disease with defects of glucose and fat metabolism in multiple organs. In addition to skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, liver, pancreas and the intestines, this may also be the case in the kidneys and the central nervous system.

The aetiology of type 2 diabetes is a complex interaction between primary predisposing factors, such as genetic susceptibility and adverse environment in fetal life, and secondary precipitating factors later in life, such as a high energy and fat consumption and low physical activity. Extensive twin studies are ongoing to elucidate the significance of genetic susceptibility versus pre- and post-natal environment in the development of various metabolic defects in type 2 diabetes.

The current area of research involves uncovering the mechanisms that increase the risk of the subsequent development of type 2 diabetes in subjects having experienced an adverse intrauterine environment. In ongoing studies, subjects with low birth weight are exposed to diabetogenic effects including both overfeeding and physical inactivity. Extensive in vivo metabolic characterisation is performed before and after exposure in addition to excision of muscle and fat biopsies in order to measure expression of proteins and genes that play a role in glucose and fat metabolism.

The research-related focus of the group
Focus is equally divided between the following two areas;
- In vivo physiological studies of glucose metabolism, insulin secretion and insulin action in subjects with overt type 2 diabetes, and those who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes (i.e. subjects with low birth weight, first degree relatives of type 2 diabetic patients).
- In vitro studies of protein and gene expression patterns of importance for in vivo glucose metabolism.

The research group has a close and fruitful collaboration with several other national and international research groups.