Use of GDF15 as a Biomarker for Early Diagnosis of DM and Monitoring of Progress of Complications in Asians

Significant differences in the expression of individual Growth Differentiation Factor 15 (GDF-15) proteins among Taiwanese harboring different mitochondrial genotypes are noted, and their blood serum levels also exhibited associations with diabetes. GDF-15 was originally discovered as an autocrine regulator of macrophage activation and shown to play important roles in fibrosis, malignancy, cardiovascular disease, glycemic control, and obesity. However, the relationship between GDF-15 and pre-diabetes and diabetes in Asian populations has yet to be fully investigated. Besides, any indirect associations between GDF-15 levels and diabetic complications remain unclear. The investigators aim to further investigate the role of GDF-15 levels in the initial diagnosis of diabetes, the monitoring of medication effectiveness and disease progression, and related complications such as diabetic nephropathy and neuropathy. The DNA isolated from the blood samples will be evaluated to determine individual mitochondria haplogroups, including variants located within the coding and control regions of the mitochondrial genome.