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Genetics of circulating proteins in newborn babies at high risk of type 1 diabetes

Author

Listed:
  • Mauro Tutino

    (Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health)

  • Nancy Yiu-Lin Yu

    (Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health)

  • Konstantinos Hatzikotoulas

    (Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health)

  • Young-Chan Park

    (Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health)

  • Peter Kreitmaier

    (Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health
    Graduate School of Experimental Medicine
    TUM School of Medicine and Health)

  • Georgia Katsoula

    (Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health
    Graduate School of Experimental Medicine
    TUM School of Medicine and Health)

  • Reinhard Berner

    (Technische Universität Dresden)

  • Kristina Casteels

    (University Hospitals Leuven
    KU Leuven)

  • Helena Elding Larsson

    (Lund University
    Malmö/Lund)

  • Olga Kordonouri

    (Kinder- und Jugendkrankenhaus AUF DER BULT)

  • Mariusz Ołtarzewski

    (Institute of Mother and Child)

  • Agnieszka Szypowska

    (Medical University of Warsaw)

  • Raffael Ott

    (German Research Center for Environmental Health)

  • Andreas Weiss

    (German Research Center for Environmental Health)

  • Christiane Winkler

    (German Research Center for Environmental Health
    Forschergruppe Diabetes e.V. at Helmholtz Munich)

  • Jose Zapardiel-Gonzalo

    (German Research Center for Environmental Health)

  • Agnese Petrera

    (Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health)

  • Stefanie M. Hauck

    (Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health)

  • Ezio Bonifacio

    (Technische Universität Dresden
    Technische Universität Dresden)

  • Anette-Gabriele Ziegler

    (German Research Center for Environmental Health
    Forschergruppe Diabetes e.V. at Helmholtz Munich
    Technical University Munich)

  • Eleftheria Zeggini

    (Helmholtz Zentrum München – German Research Center for Environmental Health
    TUM School of Medicine and Health)

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic, autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of insulin-producing β-cells in the pancreas. Early detection can facilitate timely intervention, potentially delaying or preventing disease onset. Circulating proteins reflect dysregulated biological processes and offer insights into early disease mechanisms. Here, we construct a genome-wide pQTL map of 1985 proteins in 695 newborn babies (median age 2 days) at increased genetic risk of developing Type 1 diabetes. We identify 535 pQTLs (352 cis-pQTLs, 183 trans-pQTLs), 62 of which characteristic of newborns. We show colocalization of pQTLs for CTRB1, APOBR, IL7R, CPA1, and PNLIPRP1 with Type 1 diabetes GWAS signals, and Mendelian randomization causally implicates each of these five proteins in the aetiology of Type 1 diabetes. Our study illustrates the utility of newborn molecular profiles for discovering potential drug targets for childhood diseases of significant concern.

Suggested Citation

  • Mauro Tutino & Nancy Yiu-Lin Yu & Konstantinos Hatzikotoulas & Young-Chan Park & Peter Kreitmaier & Georgia Katsoula & Reinhard Berner & Kristina Casteels & Helena Elding Larsson & Olga Kordonouri & M, 2025. "Genetics of circulating proteins in newborn babies at high risk of type 1 diabetes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-58972-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58972-3
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