Scientists Reverse Type 1 Diabetes in Mice Using a “Blended” Immune System

        A recent study has shown that scientists were able to reverse type 1 diabetes in mice by creating a “blended,” or chimeric, immune system. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, preventing proper regulation of blood sugar levels.

        In this study, researchers combined bone marrow stem cells and insulin-producing islet cells from a donor and transplanted them into mice. This process created a hybrid immune system made up of both donor and recipient cells. As a result, the newly formed immune system no longer attacked the insulin-producing cells and instead recognized them as part of the body.

        One important aspect of this research is that it avoided the need for long-term immunosuppressive drugs. In most transplant treatments, patients must take these drugs to prevent rejection. However, in this case, the mice maintained normal insulin production without ongoing immune suppression, suggesting a more stable, long-term solution.

        This research is significant because it focuses on treating the root cause of type 1 diabetes rather than managing symptoms. Current treatments, such as insulin injections, only help control blood sugar levels. By modifying the immune system, this approach has the potential to provide a long-lasting treatment

        From a genetic perspective, this study highlights how cellular and genetic processes shape the immune system's recognition of “self” and “non-self.” Understanding these mechanisms could lead to new treatments for other autoimmune diseases. Although more research is needed, this study represents an important step forward in genetic medicine.

Source: 

https://www.livescience.com/health/scientists-cured-type-1-diabetes-in-mice-by-creating-a-blended-immune-system

Additional Link: 

https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Gene-Expression

Gene Finding Provides New Insights

    Today's blog post has to do with new gene findings which provide new insights into pancreas development and in helping search for a cure to type 1 diabetes. For those with diabetes, glucose can't be used for energy, so it builds up in someone's bloodstream and causes serious health problems. Luckily, there is a peptide hormone called 'Insulin' that is produced by beta cells of the pancreatic islets which are encoded by the insulin gene in humans. Recently though, scientists found a gene which is essential for making the pancreas; and this gene is not found in almost all animals, except for chimpanzees, gorillas, and a few other types of monkeys. 

    A study was done and that is when the gene, which is called ZNF808 was found. By finding this gene during the study, it was able to show how different humans and animals are when it comes to research, and it really showed the importance of studies on the human pancreas. By studying the pancreas, we would be able to find new treatment for diabetes, and also figure out why the human pancreas is different in how it looks and develops compared to animals. After studying the ZNF808 gene it was found that it is a part of a family of evolved proteins which are in regions of DNA that they consider junk DNA. After recent studies it shows that this region of DNA where ZNF808 is, is actually an important role in human development. 

    Now that the DNA region in which ZNF808 was found is being studied, we understand that there are hundreds of genes which are like ZNF808 that will be able to help in overall human health. In the lab it was studied on the effect of ZNF808 loss while using stem cells; and it was found that ZNF808 plays a big role in important functions during early human development when our cells have to decide whether they want to become a pancreas or a liver. With this finding it is now known that this could be used to manipulate stem cells so that they produce beta cells which will be able to produce insulin on their own. If that works out we will be faced with finding a cure for type 1 diabetes.

Main Source:

Gene finding provides new insights into pancreas development and helps search for type 1 diabetes cure (medicalxpress.com)

Other Sources:

The Relationship Between Insulin And Glucose | DiabetesTalk.Net

A Contradiction to the "Lifestyle" Disease

    Recently published in Nature Genetics, Dr. Sylvie Lesage has discovered that a common genetic defect in beta cells may be the true cause of both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes.  Diabetes is often labeled the "lifestyle" disease due to the fact that Type 2 Diabetes is linked to obesity and poor health habits which cause a metabolic dysfunction of the liver. Type 1 Diabetes however,  is caused at a young age by an autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic beta cells which produce insulin. With thanks to the new discoveries it is evident that genetics plays a large role in whether a person develops the disease or not.
    Dr. Lesage states that some people have beta cells that are tough and can handle stress very well and others have the opposite characteristics. Those who have very tough and robust beta cells will remain healthy even if they suffer from an autoimmunity or metabolic disfunction of the liver. It can be said that these people are rather lucky. Whereas the unlucky people with weaker beta cells will develop the disease if they suffer from an autoimmunity or dysfunction of the liver. This discovery was made possible due to experiments that were done on mice by Dr. Adrian Liston which concluded with the information that is stated above.

    What can be taken from this newfound information is that there is a new factor that must be taken into account when studying Diabetes and the susceptibility that people have to developing this debilitating disease. I can predict that in the future a routine test to measure beta cells will be given to patients in order for doctors to be able to properly advise their patients on how to take care of their bodies. Those patients that have tough beta cells will be advised to continue to live a healthy lifestyle but will not be at high risk of developing Diabetes. Those patients that have weaker beta cells will be given the proper precautions and informed of their higher susceptibility to developing the disease. With this testing it will hopefully be possible to prevent this disease from continuing to become more prominent.