The skin flap will regulate metabolism

Genetically modified implants will defeat diabetes and obesity

Yulia Vorobyova, Vesti

Another victory of gene therapy – this time over diabetes and obesity. Researchers from the University of Chicago announced the creation of a new approach in the treatment of these two common diseases. The secret lies in the use of the already legendary CRISPR gene editing technology. However, this time it works according to a very unusual scenario.

Experts drew attention to a gene that encodes a peptide hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). It is an incretin, that is, it is produced in the intestine in response to food intake, and affects various organs and systems. For example, it reduces appetite and helps regulate blood sugar levels, causing the release of insulin.

Control over this hormone would allow regulating many body functions, but there is one problem: GPP-1 "works" for a very short period of time (the half-life of the active form is less than two minutes). To overcome this obstacle, the researchers used the CRISPR method: as a result, the edited gene encoding the creation of GLP-1 "forced" the latter to remain active much longer.

Then this gene was injected into mouse stem cell cultures and a skin implant was created based on them, which was later implanted into the rodents themselves. As a result, the modified hormone got into the blood of animals. No rejection was observed.

The mice, meanwhile, were on a high-fat diet. The subjects were divided into two groups: the first was injected with a modified hormone, the second was a control. As a result, the mice from the second group gained weight very quickly and, in addition, they began to develop high insulin resistance – a sure sign of type 2 diabetes. The first group not only remained in shape, but also showed less resistance to insulin.

Experts decided to conduct a similar experiment with human skin cells – after the same manipulations, they were transplanted to bald rodents, and the effect remained. That is, most likely, the new method is suitable for treating people. Although, of course, there are still many clinical trials ahead.

The authors also note that the edited gene keeps the GPP-1 hormones stably active for three months or more. Thus, the new method will be a very convenient replacement for traditional insulin injections, which patients do daily.

The paper also notes that it will not be difficult to technically adapt a new way of treating diabetes and obesity for people, since today skin grafting technologies are developing very quickly.

It is assumed that skin transplantation with edited genes may be useful in the future for the treatment of many other diseases. "We are focusing on diabetes because it is a common disease, but it is a potential treatment strategy for a number of metabolic and genetic abnormalities," adds Xiaoyang Wu.

In his opinion, the new technique will become an indispensable and safe alternative in the treatment of hereditary diseases (for example, hemophilia), as well as in cases of metabolic disorders. Removing toxins, delivering the proteins the body needs, regulating the work of hormones are just some of the functions that genetic engineering will take over in the future.

"I believe that gene and cell therapy will eventually replace the permanent injections needed to treat chronic diseases," concludes Timothy Kieffer, a professor at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, who was not involved in the work.

The American researchers told in more detail about their development in the publication Cell Stem Cell.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  28.08.2017