Newly Identified Molecule May Clarify Muscle Loss in Type 2 Diabetes

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have uncovered a novel molecule that could explain the common occurrence of muscle weakness and atrophy in individuals with type 2 diabetes. This discovery, published in Science Advances, focuses on a previously unknown long non-coding RNA known as TMEM9B-AS1. This molecule plays a crucial role in regulating muscle cell functions and its levels are significantly decreased in the skeletal muscles of people with type 2 diabetes. The deficiency of TMEM9B-AS1 impairs the cellular processes involved in muscle protein synthesis, contributing to muscle degradation.

The study reveals that TMEM9B-AS1 supports the stability of the MYC gene, a vital driver of ribosome production—the cellular machinery responsible for protein synthesis. When TMEM9B-AS1 levels drop, MYC becomes unstable, leading to disrupted protein production in muscle cells. This mechanism helps explain the muscle deterioration frequently observed in patients with metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes.

According to first author Ilke Sen from the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, the absence of TMEM9B-AS1 hampers the ribosomal biogenesis process, resulting in weakened muscle tissue. This groundbreaking insight not only enhances understanding of muscle pathology in diabetes but also opens potential avenues for targeted therapies aimed at restoring muscle mass and strength in affected individuals.

This discovery underscores the importance of molecular research in uncovering the intricacies of metabolic diseases and highlights new possibilities for improving muscle health in people living with type 2 diabetes.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-newly-molecule-muscle-mass-diabetes.html