One emerging way to treat diabetes is to repair or replace the cells in the body that naturally produce insulin.
In this field, Swedish researchers identified a molecule that helps stimulate the growth of new insulin-producing cells.
And they discovered the mechanism of action of the new section in the pancreas, which heralds the possibility of reaching new potential treatments for diabetes.
cells in the pancreas
According to New Atlas, citing Nature Chemical Biology, diabetes is caused by problems with the secretion of insulin, the hormone that regulates blood sugar levels and allows the body’s cells to access it for energy.
In cases of type 1 diabetes, the beta cells in the pancreas that normally produce insulin cannot meet the demand, often because the cells are destroyed by the immune system.
While the current treatment relies on the administration of insulin injections, an emerging branch of the study is focused on finding ways to regenerate insulin production by beta cells.
Previous research achievements have included creating artificial beta cells that can compensate for a deficiency due to atrophy of normal cells, or using stem cells to grow new beta cells.
small molecule
In the new study, researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden examined a small molecule that may help regenerate beta cells.
The molecule, known as CID661578, was identified in a previous research effort, but exactly how and to what extent it works remains unknown.
To answer those questions, the researchers examined molecular interactions in beta cells, and discovered that they bind to a protein called MNK2.
It has also been shown that when two other proteins are allowed to interact at higher levels, it eventually leads to increased beta cell renewal.
promising results
The researchers conducted experiments to stimulate the reaction of the molecule in zebrafish and lab animals, and found that it lowers blood sugar levels when compared to a control group, and leads to the formation of new beta cells.
Whereas when experiments were carried out on human pancreatic organs that were given the molecule, they produced more insulin.
It is noteworthy that the results of the study point to a new potential target for the treatment of diabetes.
The authors reported that a possible way was found to stimulate the formation of new insulin-producing cells, as the team is currently studying the effect of this new part and similar molecules in human tissues and analyzing the target protein of the MNK2 molecule, in tissues from healthy donors and donors suffering from disease.