Diabetes Type 1 – Potential Cure for
Insulin Dependent Juvenile Diabetes
April 22nd, 2006
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A team of
researchers from the La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology (LIAI)
have made a major discovery that could lead to a potential cure for type
1 diabetes. The research team was led by Matthias von Herrath, M.D., an
internationally recognized expert on the molecular basis of type 1
diabetes has plans for human clinical trials to begin later in the year.
The treatment in
this study used a combination to reverse the recent onset of type 1
diabetes in the majority of lab animals that they tested. Type 1
diabetes is caused by an immune system that attacks the pancreas which
causes a deficiency of insulin production. Type 2 diabetes is usually
caused by being obese or overweight. The report was first published in
the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
The two therapies
the researchers were using are called anti-CD3 antibody and proinsulin
peptide. There currently are human trials with these treatments, but on
an individual basis. The results so far for the human trials with these
chemicals on an independent basis were not as effective in the
treatments compared to the mice studies. The researchers hope that
combining the treatments in a human trial will be successful.
"The finding of
increased efficacy of reversal of recent-onset type 1 diabetes in
animals that received a combination of systemic anti-CD3 antibody and
intranasal proinsulin peptide compared to therapy with the antibody
alone is an exciting and important finding," said Richard A. Insel,
M.D., Executive Vice President for Research at the Juvenile Diabetes
Research Foundation.
In two separate
clinical trials the anti-CD3 antibody has been successful at temporarily
reversing recent onset of human type 1 diabetes. The reversal lasted
for more than one year.
"This combination
approach is worth evaluating in human type 1 diabetes to increase both
the overall efficacy of the treatment and the duration of the beneficial
effect," Dr. Insel said.
"The combinatorial
approach doubled the efficacy in laboratory mice -- with fewer side
effects than using either one alone." Dr. von Herrath said. "The
diabetes never reoccurred in the lifespan of the mice."
If this
combination treatment is successful it could change type 1 diabetes
forever. A child with pre-diabetes could be treated with the
combination therapy and be potentially cured. They would not have daily
insulin injections for controlling blood sugar levels. By curing the
type 1 diabetes the children as adults could possibly avoid body organ
failures such as kidney failure, adult blindness, and amputations.
"Since the
complications from high blood sugar levels (diabetes) worsen with time,
we are hopeful that this therapy can reverse the disease in patients
before they have too much multi-organ damage," Dr. von Herrath said.
Nicole Wilson
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