Scientists use molecule to prevent onset of type 1 diabetes
Families of individuals with type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, could save money on medical bills by purchasing supplies from a Canadian internet pharmacy, many of which sell over the counter medications, including insulin, at a discount.
Families of individuals with type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, could save money on medical bills by purchasing supplies from a Canadian internet pharmacy, many of which sell over the counter medications, including insulin, at a discount. While research continues to find new treatments to improve the lives of patients, one new study suggests there may be a way to prevent the disease from developing in the first place.
Scientists from Colorado and Florida experimented on mice that were specially bred to have type 1 diabetes, a condition in which the body's immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells that are needed for proper metabolism. Previous research led the team to a protein that is associated with the disease, prompting them to search for a molecule to enhance the presentation of insulin to the protein.
With the help of a supercomputer, the team screened more than 139,000 possible drugs as they searched for the one most likely to bind to their target protein in order to augment insulin. Ultimately, they discovered that injecting the compound glyphosine into their laboratory mice prevented them from developing diabetes. This same effect was observed in human cells, as published in The Journal of Immunology.
However, it didn't work as well for subjects that already had the disease.
The researchers also believe this discovery may lead to new approaches to other autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.
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