Understanding diabetes through treatment breakthrough for a related disease
Research undertaken by European researchers has led to a breakthrough in understanding diabetes mellitus after a treatment was found for a related rare disease. The team, led by scientists from the University of Manchester in the UK, discovered new treatments for tackling the rare and potentially lethal childhood disease congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) which is the clinical opposite to diabetes mellitus. The study, published in the journal Diabetes, was carried out by clinical colleagues from hospitals in Belgium, France and the United Kingdom. CHI occurs when the body's pancreas produces too much insulin, whereas diabetes mellitus occurs when the pancreas produces too little. In healthy insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, a small group of proteins act as switches and regulate how much insulin is released. But when these proteins don't function properly, the cells can either release too little insulin - resulting in diabetes mellitus, or too much insulin - leading to congenital hyperinsulinism. Current treatment for CHI has a low success rate, and for those experiencing the disease in its harshest form often involves pancreas removal. 'CHI causes dangerously low blood sugar levels which can lead to convulsions and brain damage if not treated properly. It is a complex condition caused by gene defects that keep the insulin producing cells switched on when they should be switched off,' commented Dr Karen Cosgrove, one of the research leaders from the University of Manchester's Faculty of Life Sciences. In this study, the researchers treated cells under specially modified conditions in order to help recover the function of the internal switches that control insulin release. These experiments are the first evidence that the outcomes of gene defects can be reversed in human insulin-producing cells. Dr Cosgrove explains how these results build on the team's previous research into how gene defects lead to uncontrolled insulin release in patients. 'Now we have taken the cells from patients following surgery and proven that, in some cases, it is possible to correct defects in the rogue cells.' Whilst altogether rarer compared to its more well-known clinical opposite - CHI occurs in approximately 1/25,000 to 1/50,000 births - it is the most frequent cause of hypoglycaemia in newborn babies and children, according to information from the charity Congenital Hyperinsulinism International. Brain damage can also occur in up to 50% of children with CHI if their condition is not diagnosed or if hypoglycaemia treatment is ineffective. There are multiple reasons why CHI occurs: among these are genetic defects or problems at birth such as foetal distress due to a lack of oxygen to the brain or premature birth. The onset of learning disabilities, cerebral palsy or blindness can also occur. The implications of this study will be welcomed by not only CHI sufferers but those with diabetes mellitus too, as it is hoped these findings will lead to new breakthroughs in diabetes mellitus treatment. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 220 million people worldwide currently have diabetes mellitus and more than 80% of diabetes mellitus deaths occur in low-middle income countries. The WHO also predicts that by 2030 deaths from diabetes mellitus will have doubled from 2005 levels. The onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus can be provoked by an unhealthy diet, a lack of regular physical activity, obesity and smoking. Diabetes mellitus also severely increases the risk of heart disease and stroke and 50% of people with diabetes die of cardiovascular disease. The link to other diseases also extends to cystic fibrosis, as one of the drugs used in the CHI study is currently in clinical trials to treat patients suffering from this disease too. The researchers hope that these findings will set the ball rolling for more breakthroughs and in turn improve the lives of CHI, diabetes mellitus and cystic fibrosis sufferers worldwide.For more information, please visit:University of Manchesterhttp://www.manchester.ac.uk/Diabeteshttp://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/ World Health Organizationhttp://www.who.int/en/
Countries
Belgium, France, United Kingdom