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Drug combination successfully regenerates beta cell production

DCUK NewsBot

DCUK NewsBot

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A cocktail of drugs has been developed which researchers say can regenerate cells that produce insulin. The findings could have a significant impact on the prevention of type 1 diabetes, which develops when beta cells in the pancreas stop making insulin, the hormone needed to control blood glucose levels. The recent trial, led by a team from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, involved combining two classes of drugs. This resulted in the replication of adult human beta cells at a rate of between 5-8% per day. Lead author Dr Andrew Stewart, director of the Mount Sinai Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism Institute, said: "We are very excited about this new observation because, for the first time, we are able to see rates of human cell beta cell replication that are sufficient to replenish beta cell mass in human beings." This breakthrough was based on previous work carried out by the same team. In an earlier study they found a small molecule called dual-specificity tyrosine-phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) led to a beta cell proliferation rate of 1.5-3%. They took those findings and added in another molecule from a different class of drug, which raised the production rate. The additional drug is an inhibitor of proteins in the transforming growth factor beta superfamily (TGFβSF). While the research is helping to speed up the rate of replication, the speed is still too low for it to be effective in people. The team want to find ways to increase production and also how to get the newly-made beta cells delivered to the pancreas. Dr Stewart said: "Since these drugs have effects on other organs in the body, we now need to develop methods to deliver these drugs specifically to the beta cell in humans." The findings have been published in the Cell Metabolism journal.

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Interesting.

Do you think I can make this stuff in my kitchen? I need a cure!
 
Jollymon said:
Interesting.

Do you think I can make this stuff in my kitchen? I need a cure!
Click to expand...

Not sure exactly how it works, but doesn't seem to mention a cure for it, rather it works as a prevention mechanism whilst beta cells are still active.
 
I think it is all about Type 2 beta cells if you read the underlying article.. a fact that maybe should have been included in the title.. shame there's no way of doing that by some simple dietary changes.... oh wait!
 
I suppose it would have potential in Type 1s if they could get the regeneration rate above the rate of degeneration caused by the antibodies - no idea how high that would have to be though. Still a long way to go before it becomes really exciting but nice to see some progress in another potential area
 
I’m thinking if the beta cells can be produced faster than the autoimmune system can destroy them, then we can make our own insulin. That might be a win. So maybe this drug combo isn’t a short term fix, but a long term thing.

A body making its own insulin has got to be better than us adding it and micro managing it via testing. Beta cells would decide if they need to make- or not make insulin. We just need to keep enough of them working. (Right now I probably have zero).

This idea for me rates right up there with smart insulin (supramolecular insulin assembly II)
 
Muneeb said:
Not sure exactly how it works, but doesn't seem to mention a cure for it, rather it works as a prevention mechanism whilst beta cells are still active.
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I thought it said it’s a drug to produce beta cells. And beta cells make insulin for the body. The problem with it was it can’t make them fast enough for bodies like ours that suppresses the beta cells.
 
bulkbiker said:
I think it is all about Type 2 beta cells if you read the underlying article.. a fact that maybe should have been included in the title.. shame there's no way of doing that by some simple dietary changes.... oh wait!
Click to expand...

First paragraph :- quote
A cocktail of drugs has been developed which researchers say can regenerate cells that produce insulin. The findings could have a significant impact on the prevention of type 1 diabetes, which develops when beta cells in the pancreas stop making insulin, the hormone needed to control blood glucose levels.
 
Muneeb said:
Not sure exactly how it works, but doesn't seem to mention a cure for it, rather it works as a prevention mechanism whilst beta cells are still active.
Click to expand...

Who would they test, to find who was 'prone' to type 1 diabetes ? My uncle had type 1 and my granddaughter has too. Some people has no diabetes in the family, so it wouldn't be known. Or it could be by routine blood tests, but we all know it costs money and the NHS is strapped for cash..................
 
Robinredbreast said:
First paragraph :- quote
A cocktail of drugs has been developed which researchers say can regenerate cells that produce insulin. The findings could have a significant impact on the prevention of type 1 diabetes, which develops when beta cells in the pancreas stop making insulin, the hormone needed to control blood glucose levels.
Click to expand...

First paragraph of report on DCUK.. if you click through to the summary of the article in "Cell Metabolism" we see

" These beneficial effects extend from normal human beta cells and stem cell-derived human beta cells to those from people with type 2 diabetes, and occur both in vitro and in vivo."

There seems to be no mention of Type 1 .. that's why it's best to try to access the article itself and not a reporters reading of it.
 
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