Scientists Reverse Type 1 Diabetes in Mice

Researchers are claiming that they have determined how to reverse the onset of type 1 diabetes, successfully testing it in experimental animal trials.

According to researchers from the University of Cincinnati (UC), by using an antibody to stimulate a specific molecule in the immune system of mice, they have determined that they can reverse the development of type 1 diabetes just as it begins to rear its ugly head.

Alice W. Ridgeway of the division of immunology, allergy and rheumatology at UC presented these findings at the 74th Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association in San Francisco on 14 June.

"The cause of this reversal is a preservation of the endocrine pancreatic beta cells that produce insulin," Ridgeway explained in a statement. "These cells are preserved from the autoimmune attack which is the hallmark of Type 1 diabetes."

According to the American Diabetes Association (ABA), type 1 diabetes is generally diagnosed in children and young adults and primarily affects the innate immune system - the part of the immune system that fights basic infections from birth. This system includes a group of cells called dendritic cells that help guide the adaptive immune system, which develops ways to target more specific illnesses.

These cells have receptors that normally help immature T cells in the adaptive immune system develop a targeted response. However, in type 1 diabetes, these cells mistakenly "train" the adaptive immune system to target insulin and the cells that produce it, causing a lot of trouble for type 1 diabetics.

Interestingly, animal trials helped the researchers determine that an agonistic monoclonal antibody called UT18 can help correct the function of these faulty dendrite receptors, effectively preserving pancreatic beta cells, which in-turn can restore insulin levels to naturally reach appropriate levels.

The researchers are quick to point out that these are just preliminary findings in animal experimentation, and it will be a long time before they fully understand how to reverse the onset of type 1 diabetes in humans.