Polygenic scores (PS) of T2D genetic variants based on pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying diabetes have been developed. We investigated whether T2D cluster PS influences response to interventions for diabetes prevention. We examined 2,647 DPP participants with impaired glucose tolerance and genetic data randomized to intensive lifestyle, metformin or placebo arms for diabetes prevention. We generated five PS clusters including β-cell related clusters (β-cell, proinsulin) and insulin resistance clusters (liver/lipid, obesity, lipodystrophy).
We examined associations of PS with baseline and 1-year glycemic traits after intervention derived from oral glucose tolerance tests using general linear models, and with diabetes incidence over an average period of 3 years using Cox Regression Models. Models were adjusted for sex, age, and 10 principal components, respective baseline trait, and treatment group.
At one-year follow-up, β-cell PS was associated with reduction in the insulinogenic index and corrected insulin response, in each treatment group and, statistically significant, in all combined (P<0.001), with no statistically significant interaction term between treatment groups, a finding consistent with a slightly increased diabetes incidence (HR 1.02 per weighted allele [CI 95% 1.00, 1.03]). The remaining PS were associated with baseline participant features, but not with diabetes incidence or change in glycemic parameters from baseline.
We conclude that high genetic burden in β-cell cluster PS is associated with greater risk of diabetes and a decrease in insulin secretion, seen across all treatment groups. Despite interventions with intensive lifestyle and metformin, participants with high β-cell cluster genetic burden had an increased risk of diabetes and worsening in insulin secretion similar to placebo group. These data suggest that alternate therapies may be needed to prevent β-cell decline in this subset of prediabetes patients.
L. K. Billings: Advisory Panel; Self; Bayer Inc., Lilly Diabetes, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi. S. Raghavan: None. S. Srinivasan: None. J. Xu: None. J. C. Florez: Consultant; Self; Goldfinch Bio, Inc., Other Relationship; Self; Novo Nordisk. M. Udler: None. D. Research group: None. K. A. Jablonski: None. P. W. Franks: Advisory Panel; Self; Zoe Global Limited, Consultant; Self; Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk. R. B. Goldberg: None. M. Hivert: None. S. E. Kahn: Advisory Panel; Self; Bayer AG, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck & Co., Inc., Novo Nordisk, Pfizer Inc. W. C. Knowler: None. C. Lee: None. J. Merino: None.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (U01DK048489)