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Gene Disruption Can Prevent Type I Diabetes
posted 05/14/04
Disrupting a gene called Stat-4 suppresses the activation of
white blood cells involved in the development of Type I diabetes.
The researchers discovered it for the first time in a mouse model, revealing an
important role for the Stat-4 gene in the pathogenesis of Type I, also known as
auto-immune diabetes. It occurs when the body's immune system goes haywire and
attacks the insulin-making beta cells of the pancreas.
According to Dr. Zandong Yang, assistant professor of research at the Health
System's division of endocrinology and metabolism, "We should not fully
eliminate the function of Stat-4 in humans, because it is important to the
body's immune response to infections."
"However, down the road, it may be possible to use a pharmacological approach to
design specific drugs to minimize Stat-4 protein function, which may be helpful
to prevent Type I diabetes," he added.
Stat-4 is a type of "signal transducer and activator of transcription" protein,
activated by the body in response to cytokines (proteins produced by white blood
cells), growth factors and hormones.
According to Dr. Jerry Nadler, a study co-author, "This research opens up
additional areas for identifying new, small molecular targets to prevent immune
damage to insulin-producing cells."
"The results could form the basis for new ways to prevent Type I diabetes and
possibly advance the field of islet replacement therapy to reverse established
diabetes. This study also represents a key collaboration between investigators
in the Diabetes and Hormone Center of Excellence at U.Va. and Dr. Marcia
McDuffie in the department of microbiology," he added.
According to Yang, "If you don't have a functional Stat-4 protein. IL-12 cannot
express its biological function in many types of immune cells. LSF mainly
inhibits Stat-4 protein function, leading to suppression of IL-12 biological
action in cells. This is one mechanism explaining why LSF has prevented diabetes
in our previous studies."
Source: Diabetes In Control.com: (ANI) Study conducted at the University of Virginia Health System.
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