New Insulin receptor
An insulin receptor has been discovered, opening up new ways to get rid of diabetes
Maria Tolmacheva, XX2 century
Researchers have discovered a new insulin receptor in beta cells, called the insulin inhibitory receptor (VM). Blocking the function of the receptors leads to an increase in the sensitivity of the insulin signaling pathway in the beta cells of the pancreas. Scientists hope that the discovery can provide protection and regeneration of beta cells for remission of diabetes mellitus.
This is the last work of the Center. Helmholtz Zentrum München, the Technical University of Munich and the German Center for Diabetes Research are an important stage in diabetes research.
Article by Ansarullah et al. Inceptor counters insulin signaling in β-cells to control glycaemia is published in the journal Nature.
It is significant that the study was published this year, when the scientific community celebrates 100 years of the discovery of insulin and 50 years of the discovery of insulin receptors.
Diabetes mellitus is a complex disease characterized by the loss or dysfunction of insulin–producing beta cells in the islets of Langerhans, the part of the pancreas that controls blood sugar levels. In diabetes, insulin may not be produced by beta cells at all, or it may be produced but not used properly due to the loss of sensitivity of beta cells to this hormone.
Complications from diabetes, such as a chronic increase in blood sugar, systemic metabolic insufficiency and, in the long term, damage to many organs, lead to premature death. Currently, no pharmacological treatment can stop the development of the disease. Previous studies have shown that intensive insulin therapy has the potential to improve blood sugar control and diabetes remission, but also leads to unwanted weight gain and even more serious side effects, such as an increased risk of hypoglycemia.
– Insulin resistance in the beta cells of the pancreas causes diabetes. Therapies that increase the sensitivity of these cells to insulin may protect diabetic patients from beta cell loss, says Heiko Lickert, Director of the Heiko Lickert Center. Helmholtz.
His research team sees the inceptor as a promising target for the protection and regeneration therapy of beta cells, which would not have the side effects of insulin injections.
In experiments with mice, the researchers showed that the function of the receptor is to protect insulin-producing beta cells from activating the insulin receptor signaling pathway. In diabetes, the inceptor is particularly active and may, according to researchers, be one of the causes of insulin resistance.
What happens if the function of the acceptor is inhibited genetically or pharmacologically? The group investigated this issue by blocking the function with monoclonal antibodies.
– The result was exactly as we had hoped: insulin signaling and functional mass of beta cells were increased. This makes the inceptor a very promising target for the treatment of the root cause of diabetes, loss and dysfunction of beta cells, says Chirac Jane Ansarulla (Chirag Jain Ansarullah), one of the lead authors of the study and a diabetes researcher.
– A hundred years ago, the discovery of insulin turned a deadly disease into a manageable disease. Our discovery of the insulin-inhibiting receptor is now another important step for finally getting rid of the disease. Although the COVID-19 pandemic is an immediate threat that we will overcome, we must not forget that diabetes remains one of the most dangerous and deadly diseases on our planet. Thanks to a number of recent breakthroughs, including the discovery of the inceptor, our center is confidently striving for its goal – a world without diabetes, says Mathias Chep, CEO of the Center. Helmholtz.
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