New algorithm can predict diabetic kidney disease

LA JOLLA, CALIF. – May 15, 2023 – Researchers from Sanford Burnham Prebys and the Chinese University of Hong Kong have developed a computational approach to predict whether a person with type 2 diabetes will develop kidney disease, a frequent and dangerous complication of diabetes. Their results, published in Nature Communications, could help doctors prevent or better manage kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes.

“This study provides a glimpse into the powerful future of predictive diagnostics,” says co-senior author Kevin Yip, Ph.D., a professor and director of Bioinformatics at Sanford Burnham Prebys. “Our team has demonstrated that by combining clinical data with cutting-edge technology, it’s possible to develop computational models to help clinicians optimize the treatment of type 2 diabetes to prevent kidney disease.”

Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide. In the United States, 44% of cases of end-stage kidney disease and dialysis are due to diabetes. In Asia, this number is 50%.

“There has been significant progress developing treatments for kidney disease in people with diabetes,” says co-senior author Ronald Ma, MB BChir, FRCP, a professor in the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. “However, it can be difficult to assess an individual patient’s risk for developing kidney disease based on clinical factors alone, so determining who is at greatest risk of developing diabetic kidney disease is an important clinical need.”

The new algorithm depends on measurements of a process called DNA methylation, which occurs when subtle changes accumulate in our DNA. DNA methylation can encode important information about which genes are being turned on and off, and it can be easily measured through blood tests.

“Our computational model can use methylation markers from a blood sample to predict both current kidney function and how the kidneys will function years in the future, which means it could be easily implemented alongside current methods for evaluating a patient’s risk for kidney disease,” says Yip.

The researchers developed their model using detailed data from more than 1,200 patients with type 2 diabetes in the Hong Kong Diabetes Register. They also tested their model on a separate group of 326 Native Americans with type 2 diabetes, which helped ensure that their approach could predict kidney disease in different populations.

“This study highlights the unique strength of the Hong Kong Diabetes Register and its huge potential to fuel further discoveries to improve our understanding of diabetes and its complications,” says study co-author Juliana Chan, M.D., FRCP, a professor in the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, who established the Hong Kong Diabetes Register more than two decades ago.

“The Hong Kong Diabetes Register is a scientific treasure,” adds first author Kelly Yichen Li, Ph.D., a postdoctoral scientist at Sanford Burnham Prebys. “They follow up with patients for many years, which gives us a full picture of how human health can change over decades in people with diabetes.”

The researchers are currently working to further refine their model. They are also expanding the application of their approach to look at other questions about human health and disease—such as determining why some people with cancer don’t respond well to certain treatments.

“The science is still evolving, but we are working on incorporating additional information into our model to further empower precision medicine in diabetes,” adds Ma.

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Additional authors on the study include Claudia Ha Ting Tam, Cadmon King Poo Lim, Wing Yee So, Chuiguo Huang, Guozhi Jiang, Mai Shi, Hueng Man Lee, Hui-yao Lan and Cheuk-Chun Szeto, Chinese University of Hong Kong; Hongbo Liu, Katalin Susztak, University of Pennsylvania; Samantha Day, Robert L. Hanson and Robert G. Nelson, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

The study was supported by grants from The Hong Kong Research Grants Council Theme-based Research Scheme (T12-402/13N) and Research Impact Fund (R4012-18), with additional support from the Research Grants Council (C4015-20E, C4045-18W, C4057-18E, C7044-19G, 14107420 and 14203119), National Institutes of Health (P30 CA030199-41, U54 AG079758-01, R21 AG075483-01S1, R01 DK087635, DK076077 and DK105821) and support from the Croucher Foundation and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The study’s DOI is 10.1038/s41467-023-37837-7

About Sanford Burnham Prebys

Sanford Burnham Prebys is an independent biomedical research institute dedicated to understanding human biology and disease and advancing scientific discoveries to profoundly impact human health. For more than 45 years, our research has produced breakthroughs in cancer, neuroscience, immunology and children’s diseases, and is anchored by our NCI-designated Cancer Center and advanced drug discovery capabilities. For more information, visit us at SBPdiscovery.org or on Facebook facebook.com/SBPdiscovery and on Twitter @SBPdiscovery.

About the Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CU Medicine)

CU Medicine was set up to meet the needs of society by providing graduates with the professional development and knowledge that equips them to be caring and competent medical practitioners. As a young medical school established in 1981, the Faculty ranks top 3 in Asia and 32nd globally in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023.

We have a team of over 1,200 full-time teaching and research staff from 19 departments/schools covering the entire range of research and clinical disciplines. We encourage collaborative working between scientists and clinicians across disciplines and specialties, and remain at the forefront of the translational medicine revolution. Our Faculty members excel in tackling challenging health problems, making a memorable impact on patients’ lives and the wider society.

CU Medicine has won an internationally renowned research reputation for its encouraging environment for the effective pursuit of world-class research as well as remarkable contributions from team members.