New Type 1 Diabetes Treatment Uncovered

Tue, 20 Dec 2011

Researchers in Australia say they have discovered a new potential treatment for Type 1 diabetes .

Dr Charmaine Simeonovic and Professor Christopher Parish from The John Curtin School of Medical Research in Canberra have identified a previously unknown process which causes destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.

They claim their research shows that the pancreatic cells require a complex sugar called heparan sulphate for their survival and without it they die.

"We’ve discovered that replacement of heparan sulphate in the beta cells rescues the cells from dying and prevents them from damage caused by oxidation. This new work has identified heparan sulphate depletion in beta cells as a major cause of beta cell death," Dr Simeonovic explained.

"We attribute this cell death to loss of the beta cells’ normal defence against damage by oxidation caused by free radicals, or highly chemically reactive atoms, molecules or ions."

The study also found that the autoimmune cells in the immune system damage beta cells by producing the enzyme heparanase, which degrades heparan sulphate in beta cells .

"Treatment with a heparanase inhibitor, PI-88, was shown to preserve heparan sulphate in the beta cells of the pancreas and protect against Type 1 diabetes," said Dr Simeonovic.

"This has revealed a new understanding of the development of Type 1 diabetes and has identified a new therapeutic strategy for preventing progression of the autoimmune disease and associated complications ."

Professor Parish added that they have already set up a biotechnology company to develop new drugs "to take advantage of this discovery".

The breakthrough study has been published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation.

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