| 摘要 |
β-cell loss in In Type 1 diabetes is typically undetected until the development of hyperglycemia, at which point β-cell mass is significantly reduced. Methylation sensitive quantitative real time PCR (qRTPCR) of demethylated circulating free β-cell specific DNA can be used as a biomarker of β-cell death. Such DNA includes insulin gene and amylin gene DNA. Detection may be by determination of a gene demethylation index. Methylated and demethylated DNA may be distinguished by bisulfite treatment and use of specific PCR primers or probes to detect the different bisulfite treatment products. Detection of demethylated circulating free amylin DNA is useful in identifying β-cell death. The amylin DNA may be used in conjunction with other β-cell specific genes, such as insulin, to provide a multi-gene approach towards the detection of β-cell loss. |
