Research ArticleOpen AccessGoogle Scholar indexed
A Case Study and Meta-Analysis of Type 2 Diabetes Research
Department of Anthropology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA
- 1 Department of Anthropology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA
Advances in Anthropology·Volume 03 (2013)·Pages 96–100·Published 9 May 2013·DOI10.4236/aa.2013.32013
Copy link · social · email
Abstract
In the last decade, a new wave of inspired research surrounding a transcription factor’s role in blood-sugar homeostasis has emerged. Transcription Factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2 or TCF4), a member of the Wnt signal ing pathway, is intimately involved in suppressing glucagon synthesis. It also may affect β-cell function. Regiospecific trends concerning the selection of its molecular variants, their dependency on environ mental and behavioral changes, and their relative associations with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have become well documented. This dynamic and nuanced understanding of one T2D risk factor should be desired in all other phases of study. An open and incorporative mindset such as this can revitalize the research field.
KeywordsType 2 DiabetesT2DTranscription Factor 7-Like 2TCF7L2TCF4West AfricaEast AsiaWorld Health
- Carter, R., & Mendis, K. N. (2002). Evolutionary and historical aspects of the burden of malaria. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 15, 564-594. doi:10.1128/CMR.15.4.564-594.2002
- Cauchi, S. et al. (2007). TCF7L2 is reproducibly associated with type 2 diabetes in various ethnic groups: A global meta-analysis. Journal of Molecular Medicine, 85, 777-782. doi:10.1007/s00109-007-0203-4
- Encyclopedia of DNA elements. Santa Cruz: University of California. URL (Last checked 19 April 2012).
- Grant, S. F. et al. (2006). Variant of transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene confers risk of type 2 diabetes. Nature Genetics, 38, 320-323.
- Helgason, A. et al. (2007). Refining the impact of TCF7L2 gene variants on type 2 diabetes and adaptive evolution. Nature Genetics, 39, 218-225. doi:10.1038/ng1960
- Jackson, F. L. C. (2004). Human genetic variation and health: New assessment approaches based on ethnographic layering. British Medical Bulletin, 69, 215-235. doi:10.1093/bmb/ldh012
- Livingstone, F. (1958). Anthropological implications of sickle cell gene distribution in West Africa. American Anthropologist, 60, 533-562. doi:10.1525/aa.1958.60.3.02a00110
- Melzer, D. et al. (2006). Effects of the diabetes linked TCF7L2 polymorphism in a representative older population. BMC Medicine, 4, 34.
- Munoz, J. et al. (2006). Polymorphism in the transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene is associated with reduced insulin secretion innondiabetic women. Diabetes, 55, 3630-3634. doi:10.2337/db06-0574
- Smith, U. (2007). TCF7L2 and type 2 diabetes—We WNT to know. Diabetologia, 50, 5-7. doi:10.1007/s00125-006-0521-z
- World Health Organization. Fact sheet N°312. URL (Last checked 19 April 2012).