In 2014, there were over 400 million people suffering from Diabetes Mellitus. Diabetes patients are at risk to develop complications like cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic low-grade inflammation is believed to play an important role in this. In this study, we hypothesize that the activation of chronic inflammation is initiated and driven by a disturbed interaction between the gut microbiome, blood leukocytes and adipose tissue.

The aim of this project is to investigate the role of inflammation and the gut microbiome as drivers of diabetes complications, and eventually to develop gut microbiome-based predictive biomarkers.

300 participants (Age >18  years old) with type I diabetes, of western-European descent are invited to participate. The following information and materials will be available:

  • Metadata
    • Questionnaire on lifestyle, diet and health
    • Clinical data
  • DNA for genomic analysis
  • RNA for transcriptome analysis
  • Microbiome samples: stool, oral, skin, vaginal
  • Serum, plasma and urine
  • Immune function
    • Immune cell subpopulations and immunoglobuline subclasses determined by flowcytometry
    • In-vitro stimulations of cells and analysis of cytokine responses.
    • Freshly frozen PBMC

This study is part of the Biomarker Development Center program, sponsored by STW. Participating centers are: Radboudumc, University Medical Center Groningen and Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam.