Blood-based sEV Proteins for Early Detection of 2 Diabetes

The prevalence of diabetes in China is a significant concern. In 2019, 116.4 million adults were living with diabetes, a number expected to climb to 147.2 million by 2045. Type 2 diabetes (T2D) constitutes 95% of these cases . In Hong Kong, T2D affects an estimated 700,000 people, with prevalence keeps rising. Epidemiology data clearly show that obesity and T2D are closely associated. A previous study conducted by the investigators found that integrin-β2 protein levels are significantly increased in the circulating small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) of obese/overweight individuals. Given the well-known association between integrin/ECM and the development of insulin resistance, The study hypothesis is that integrin-β2 and ECM1 proteins in the circulating sEVs can be used for the early detection of obese individuals at risk for T2D.This proposed study is critical to provide supporting data for the implementation of a subsequent prospective cohort study to validate whether integrin β2/ECM1 proteins in circulating sEVs can be used for the early detection of obese individuals at risk for T2D.