CFRD is associated with worse nutritional status, greater pulmonary function decline, and increased mortality, highlighting its relevance in CF and arises primarily from compromised insulin secretion--traditionally considered a by-product of pancreatic exocrine tissue damage and fibrosis. Recent developments in the field of diabetes are propelling a re-examination of this basic explanation. Genome-wide association studies have associated genetic variants in TCF7L2, a transcription factor implicated in enteroendocrine function, with increased susceptibility to T2DM and CFRD.
The Objectives of this study are to perform targeted sequencing of TCF7L2 and other GWAS-associated T2DM genes in the pediatric and adult CF populations and then to compare insulin secretory capacity, β-cell sensitivity to glucose, and incretin secretion in non-diabetic CF subjects with high and low-risk alleles.
Phase 1 will include 450-500 subjects (Children age\>= 2 years, adolescents, and adults) for TCF7L2 genotype and ten other GWAS-implicated T2DM genes. The distribution of TCF7L2 and other GWAS-implicated T2 DM genes across the spectrum of glucose abnormalities will be described. Phase 1 requires a single blood or saliva sample and review of medical records.
