Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a lifelong autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks\u00a0islets,\u00a0certain\u00a0areas\u00a0of the pancreas,\u00a0and destroys\u00a0cells that would otherwise produce insulin,\u00a0a hormone\u00a0crucial for\u00a0regulating blood sugar levels.\u00a0One emerging treatment is\u00a0transplantation \u2013 replacing\u00a0islets\u00a0with healthy\u00a0cells\u00a0\u2013\u00a0but\u00a0patients would have to take medication\u00a0that\u00a0subdues\u00a0the immune\u00a0system,\u00a0so\u00a0the body\u00a0doesn’t\u00a0reject\u00a0the therapy.<\/p>\n
A recent study\u00a0from\u00a0researchers with the\u00a0University of Missouri School of Medicine\u00a0shows a potential way to protect the transplant without using immunosuppressive drugs.\u00a0They found that\u00a0modifying\u00a0islets\u00a0with immune-regulating\u00a0molecules significantly enhanced\u00a0the\u00a0acceptance\u00a0and\u00a0survival\u00a0of islet cells compared to unmodified\u00a0cells.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Immunosuppressant medications\u00a0affect\u00a0and weaken\u00a0the whole body,\u00a0so\u00a0we\u00a0instead\u00a0focused on how we could improve\u00a0our delivery of the\u00a0transplanted\u00a0islets. We\u00a0provided islets with a protective shield consisting of two\u00a0molecules that help\u00a0the transplants\u00a0evade rejection\u00a0from the immune system, a solution\u00a0that\u00a0lengthens the\u00a0survival\u00a0of islet cells with minimal side effects.”<\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Haval Shirwan,\u00a0study author<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In\u00a0a preclinical\u00a0model, normal glucose\u00a0(blood\u00a0sugar)\u00a0levels\u00a0were\u00a0established\u00a0in over 72% of\u00a0recipients of transplanted islets, without the need for insulin medication.\u00a0The two molecules added to\u00a0islets allowed cells to\u00a0respond to glucose and\u00a0secrete insulin naturally.<\/p>\n
“We\u00a0engineered islets with\u00a0thrombomodulin and\u00a0CD47. The first one prevents\u00a0harmful inflammation<\/a> that would otherwise contribute to early islet destruction, and\u00a0the second\u00a0sends a signal\u00a0to immune cells\u00a0that\u00a0there is no threat\u00a0and to ‘back off’,” study author Esma Yolcu said. “Transplanted islets\u00a0engineered\u00a0with both molecules had a far better survival rate than islets with only one.”<\/p>\n If\u00a0future research trials succeed, this\u00a0transplantation treatment could\u00a0help patients with T1D manage their symptoms\u00a0and\u00a0eliminate\u00a0the need for insulin shots.<\/p>\n “Approximately\u00a02 million people\u00a0in the United States\u00a0have\u00a0T1D,\u00a0and\u00a0according to several studies, this\u00a0number will rise as the rate of disease increases,”\u00a0Shirwan\u00a0said. “While we still need to do more research confirming its safety and effectiveness in humans, this method\u00a0is a promising\u00a0way\u00a0to stabilize T1D.”\u00a0<\/p>\n Haval Shirwan, PhD\u00a0is\u00a0a professor of Pediatrics and Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Mizzou School of Medicine. He is also chair\u00a0of the\u00a0Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, a Curators’ Distinguished Professor,\u00a0George Trimble Endowed Chair for Excellence in Medicine,\u00a0Marvin Hall, MD Faculty Scholar in Diabetes, and an investigator at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center and NextGen Precision Health.<\/p>\n Esma Yolcu, PhD\u00a0is\u00a0a professor of\u00a0Pediatrics and Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the Mizzou School of Medicine.\u00a0She is also the\u00a0Division Director of Pediatric Research\u00a0and a\u00a0NextGen Precision Health Investigator.<\/p>\n “Islets co-engineered with thrombomodulin and CD47 achieve sustained survival in allogeneic recipients without chronic immunosuppression”\u00a0was recently published in\u00a0JCI Insight,\u00a0a companion\u00a0publication\u00a0to the Journal of Clinical Investigation.\u00a0In addition to\u00a0Shirwan\u00a0and Yolcu, Mizzou study authors include\u00a0Shadab Kazmi, former research scientist;\u00a0Mohammad Tarique,\u00a0senior scientist at NextGen Precision Health;\u00a0Darshan Badal,\u00a0post-doctoral fellow;\u00a0Vahap\u00a0Ulker,\u00a0former\u00a0research technician;\u00a0Ali Turan,\u00a0former\u00a0graduate student;\u00a0Kathleen M. Yee-Flores,\u00a0post-doctoral fellow;\u00a0and\u00a0Abdalmonam Jadou Nejma,\u00a0scientist.<\/p>\n Source:<\/p>\n University of Missouri-Columbia<\/a><\/p>\n Journal reference:<\/p>\n