Compositions and Methods for Identifying and Modulating Metabolic Health

A method of identifying a subject at risk for metabolic dysfunction, the method comprising:

• (a) isolating a biosample from a subject;
• (b) determining a level of one or more biomarkers present in the biosample, wherein the one or more biomarkers comprise PlexinD1 nucleic acid, COL5A1 nucleic acid, visceral adipose tissue, subcutaneous adipose tissue, hypertrophic visceral adipose tissue, hyperplastic visceral adipose tissue, or a combination thereof;
• and
• (c) identifying the subject as having a risk for metabolic dysfunction when the concentration of the one or more biomarkers is increased or decreased relative to a reference concentration or range of the same biomarker, and wherein the metabolic dysfunction comprises insulin sensitivity, insulin resistance, or type 2 diabetes.

A method for determining the efficacy of a treatment of a metabolic dysfunction in a subject, the method comprising:

• (a) isolating a biosample from a subject prior to treatment of a metabolic dysfunction and determining a pre-treatment concentration of one or more biomarkers present in the biosample, wherein the one or more biomarkers comprise COL1A2, COL2A1, COL4A1, COL5A2, COL5A3, COL6A1, FN1, ACAN, LAMA, GPC4, or SPARC nucleic acid or protein,
• (b) isolating a biosample from the subject after treatment of the metabolic dysfunction and determining a post-treatment concentration of the one or more biomarkers present in the biosample;
• and
• (c) determining the efficacy of the treatment for the metabolic dysfunction when the post-treatment concentration of the one or more biomarkers is increased or decreased as compared to (1) the pre-treatment concentration of the same biomarker in the subject, or (2) a reference concentration or range of the same biomarker, wherein the metabolic dysfunction comprises insulin sensitivity, insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes.