Genetic regulation across germline and somatic variation on the Y chromosome contributes to type 2 diabetes

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Source: Nature Medicine

Original: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-026-04213-z...

Published: 2026-02-23

A genetic study of more than 300,000 men found that loss of the Y chromosome increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, with the effect differing between East Asians and Europeans[2]. Using multi-omics data, scientists have found that loss of the Y chromosome is a biomarker of biological aging that indicates a weakening of the body's cellular repair systems[2]. Research has shown that this phenomenon may be caused by impaired glucose metabolism in pancreatic β cells that lack the Y chromosome[2]. Rare genetic variants in the GIGYF1 gene significantly increase the susceptibility to Y chromosome loss and at the same time increase the risk of type 2 diabetes up to sixfold[2]. The GIGYF1 gene regulates the signaling of insulin and cell growth factors[2]. These findings suggest potential targets for future research aimed at understanding the links between metabolic and cellular aging[2].