The pancreas is the source of diabetes medication
The cause of type 1 diabetes, formerly known as "juvenile diabetes", is the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas by the body's own immune cells. As a result, the synthesis of insulin in the body is greatly reduced or stopped, which leads to the development of severe metabolic disorders. To date, the only effective method of treating this autoimmune disease is insulin replacement therapy, which does not cure it, but only prevents the development of hyperglycemia.
Researchers at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Canada, working under the guidance of Associate Professor Qinghua Wang (right) and Professor Gerald Prud'homme (left), devoted their work to the study of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), long known as a neurotransmitter that provides the transmission of nerve impulses between brain cells. But the same substance is produced by beta cells of the pancreas - obviously, for a reason: it turned out that GABA injections not only prevent the development of diabetes in mice predisposed to it, but also cure the disease.
At the same time, gamma-aminobutyric acid has a bidirectional effect: it stimulates the regeneration of beta cells and simultaneously blocks the destructive activity of the immune system. Simultaneous exposure to these two therapeutic targets is a prerequisite for the effectiveness of the treatment of type 1 diabetes, which until now has remained a pipe dream for developers of antidiabetic drugs.
Canadian researchers have demonstrated for the first time the important role of GABA in ensuring the survival and functioning of pancreatic beta cells. They are currently looking forward to the results of the planned clinical trials of a new diabetes treatment method.
Article by Nepton Soltani et al. GABA exerts protective and regenerative effects on islet beta cells and reverses diabetes was published on June 27 in the preliminary on-line version of PNAS.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" www.vechnayamolodost.ru based on the materials of St. Michael's Hospital:
Chemical produced in pancreas prevented and reversed diabetes in mice.
30.06.2011