Beta Cell Protector

A new way to treat diabetes has been found

Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+

American researchers from the Vail Cornell Medical Center have found that a protein produced by adipose tissue called adipsin protects the beta cells of the pancreas from destruction in type 2 diabetes. This is important both for the diagnosis and for the treatment of the disease.

Article by Gómez-Banoy et al. Adipsin preserves beta cells in diabetic mice and associates with protection from type 2 diabetes in humans published in the journal Nature Medicine – VM.

Scientists knew that adipsin plays a role in stimulating beta cells to secrete insulin, so they suggested that it may have a therapeutic effect for the treatment of diabetes.

To test this hypothesis, the researchers first conducted experiments on mice with diabetes, increasing their adipsin levels.

This manipulation had a long-term positive effect on the disease: the level of insulin in the blood increased, sugar levels normalized, and the death of beta cells was suspended.

Image of the pancreatic islet with beta cells producing insulin (red) and beta cells with signs of dysfunction (yellow and green). Figure from the press release of Weill Cornell Medicine Researchers Find a New Potential Approach to Type 2 Diabetes Treatment – VM.

Further observations determined the mechanics of the protective action. Adipsin activated the C3a molecule, which protected and maintained the function of beta cells. In addition, C3a also suppressed the enzyme Dusp26, which contributes to the damage and death of pancreatic cells.

"This means that exposure to adipsin or Dusp26 can prevent the development of diabetes," said the lead author of the study, scientist Nicholas Gomez-Banoy.

To better understand how adipsin affects people's health, scientists also analyzed data from more than 5.5 thousand people who participated in a clinical study for diseases of the cardiovascular system.

In people with elevated adipsin, the incidence of diabetes was higher.

In the subgroup with the highest protein levels, the incidence of diabetes was 50% lower compared to patients with the lowest indicators.

The authors emphasize that further research is needed to determine whether a high level of adipsin protects against the development of diabetes and whether an increase in indicators can reduce the risk of the disease in certain population groups.

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