Australian researchers may be one step closer to preventing type 1 diabetes after identifying a crucial protein that could prevent autoimmune disease from taking hold.
Researchers at the University of Queensland and Mater have developed a biological agent, sRAGE, that increases the function of white blood cells that is damaged in people who develop type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is a life-threatening chronic disease in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin.
Professor Josephine Forbes, a researcher at the UQ School of Medicine, said the discovery of proteins was an exciting development.
“Our lab tests show that sRAGE can correct defective regulatory T cells to better prevent the immune system from going bad and causing diabetes,” Professor Forbes said.
“Our preclinical studies indicate that this agent will be safer and much less intrusive than current treatments being tested for the prevention of type 1 diabetes, such as regulatory T-cell infusions.
“We have already begun working with overseas companies to explore ways to offer the treatment in tablet form and we are optimistic about starting clinical trials within three years.”
Researcher Mater, Dr. Sherman Leung, said laboratory tests on human cell models showed that treatment with sRAGE increased regulatory T cells in important places in the body critical for the development of diabetes. type 1.
“We found that increasing regulatory T cells through sRAGE in the pancreas, pancreatic ganglia, and spleen prevented diabetes and also resulted in better insulin expression and function,” Dr. Leung said.
“Our study suggests that sRAGE could also be used to treat patients who have already developed type 1 diabetes to help better control blood glucose because it can stop the inflammatory response that causes the symptoms of the disease.”
The findings have been replicated by an independent Novo Nordisk research group in the US.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, type 1 diabetes affects about 12 out of every 100,000 Australians, with an average of about seven new cases diagnosed per day.
The onset of type 1 diabetes occurs suddenly, often at an early age, and is unrelated to lifestyle factors.
People with type 1 diabetes have an increased risk of premature death from complications of the disease, such as heart attacks.
The study was funded by the Mater Foundation, the Foundation for Youth Diabetes Research and the Australian National Council for Medical Research and Health.
The research has been published in the Journal of the American Diabetes Association, Diabetes.
Media: communications@uq.edu.au+61 429 056139.