# Increased O-GlcNAcylation in Leukocytes from Overweight Pediatric Subjects: A Pilot Study

## TL;DR

This study found higher O-GlcNAcylation in blood cells of overweight children, suggesting it could be a new early marker for future diabetes risk.

## Contribution

The study identifies elevated O-GlcNAcylation in leukocytes of overweight children as a potential novel biomarker for early metabolic risk detection.

## Key findings

- Leukocyte O-GlcNAcylation was higher in overweight children compared to normal-weight children.
- O-GlcNAcylation levels correlated with BMI, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and CRP.
- The findings suggest O-GlcNAcylation may serve as an early biomarker for metabolic abnormalities.

## Abstract

Type II diabetes mellitus (T2D) is a metabolic disorder. Childhood overweight or obesity raises the risk for developing T2D later in life. Early identification of at-risk individuals is fundamental for disease prevention and patient management. The scope of this pilot study was to explore whether leukocyte protein O-GlcNAc modification is elevated in an overweight pediatric cohort. Eight overweight and eight normal-weight children aged 3–13 years were recruited at the Papardo General Hospital (Messina, Italy). Physical exams, complete blood tests, and determination of leukocyte protein O-GlcNAcylation were carried out. Protein O-GlcNAcylation was higher in leucocytes from overweight children compared to normal-weight children, and was significantly correlated with BMI, metabolic markers (LDL-cholesterol/triglycerides), and the inflammatory marker CRP. This study suggests that leukocyte protein O-GlcNAcylation may represent a novel biomarker for the early detection of metabolic abnormalities that may lead to the development of pre-diabetes or T2D later in life.