Longitudinal multi-omics of host-microbe dynamics in prediabetes.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Prospective longitudinal observational cohort study without randomized intervention
PubMed 31142858 · doi:10.1038/s41586-019-1236-x
What was done
Researchers followed 106 healthy and prediabetic individuals over approximately four years, conducting longitudinal profiling of transcriptomes, metabolomes, cytokines, proteomes, and microbiome dynamics during healthy baselines, respiratory viral infections, and immunization.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical values, effect sizes, or confidence intervals. Multi-omic profiles showed distinct inter- and intra-personal variability. Host and microbial responses differed between immunization and viral infections, with insulin-resistant participants showing divergent responses to viral infections compared to insulin-sensitive participants. Specific host-microbe interactions differed by insulin resistance status. In one individual who developed type 2 diabetes, early molecular signatures preceding onset included elevated interleukin-1 receptor agonist (IL-1RA), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), and xenobiotic-induced immune signaling.
Why it matters
The paper demonstrates that insulin resistance is associated with altered immune and host-microbiome dynamics during physiological perturbations, providing a high-resolution molecular reference for prediabetes.
Limits
The abstract provides no numerical data, exact statistics, or effect estimates. The cohort size was modest (n = 106), and the transition to clinical type 2 diabetes was documented in only one participant (n = 1). The observational design identifies correlational molecular networks rather than causal mechanisms.
Cited by
- supports Individual molecular profiles across proteins, metabolites, and lipids remain stable over time and remain closer to a person's healthy baseline during acute infection than to another person's profile.