Researchers at the University of Chicago hypothesized that changes in inflammatory signaling within β cells induce autoimmunity, and therefore, targeting β-cells instead of the immune system can help prevent type 1 diabetes. Genetic tools were used to delete the Alox15 gene in mice genetically predisposed to developing type 1 diabetes. Deleting this gene reduced the infiltration of immune T-cells in the islets of Langerhans, thus preventing type-1 diabetes.
The concentration of programmed death ligands-1 (PD-L1) protein that inhibits autoimmune responses also increased in these mice. In addition, a new drug, ML355, was tested in the study, which increased the level of PD-L1 protein, indicating that this drug could be effective in preventing type 1 diabetes. Important findings Using β-cells targeted therapeutics can be effective at an early stage of type 1 diabetes or even before that,…
