Immune systems of type 1 diabetics can be ‘retrained’ to stop destroying insulin, scientists show

www.telegraph.co.uk ^ | 9 August 2017 | Sarah Knapton, Science Editor

[Red Badger]

The damaged immune systems of diabetics can be ‘retrained’ to stop them destroying insulin, scientists believe, following successful trials of a pioneering new therapy.

Researchers at King’s College London and Cardiff University showed that injecting patients with tiny protein fragments prevented immune cells from targeting vital insulin.

Type 1 diabetes develops when a patient's immune system mistakenly attacks the insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas.

Without treatment the number of beta cells will slowly decrease and the body will no longer be able to maintain normal blood sugar (blood glucose) levels, leading to patients needing daily injections.

But a trial

involving 27 people showed it was possible to halt the loss of beta cells with fortnightly or monthly injections for six months. There were also no toxic side-effects.

A placebo group who were not given the new treatment declined over the same period, while the trial patients all remained stable. The team is now planning larger trials.

Professor Mark Peakman, of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, said: "When someone is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes they still typically have between 15 per cent and 20 per cent of their beta cells.

“We wanted to see if we could protect these remaining cells by retraining the immune system to stop attacking them.

"We still have a long way to go, but these early results suggest we are heading in the right direction. The peptide technology used in our trial is not only appears to be safe for patients at this stage, but it also has a noticeable effect on the immune system."

[Red Badger]

[samtheman]

I have a friend with this disease. Hopefully there will be some marketable results from this soon.

[Edgar3]

My son has been Type 1 since age 4 (16 years). I have heard of many such “breakthroughs” over the years, but nothing seems to materialize. Diabetes is big business, so methinks that many of these advancements get bought up and suppressed. Yes, I am cynical.

[toast]

My son also has type 1 since he was 5 (22 years old). I also work for a company that makes insulin pumps. Many of the people involved in finding a cure for type 1 either have the disease or are closely affected. I also get frustrated about the length of time a cure is taking. They have cured it in mice 5 times over. But I also know what a roadblock the FDA is. A cure will eventually happen. They are too close.

Don't be too cynical.

[Edgar3]

Don't be too cynical.

I hear you. My son is actually studying Biomedical Engineering, so maybe he can be a part of the solution as well.

[Red Badger]

Many are just too dangerous and some don’t pan out even though lab tests were promising.

I would have thought that stem-cell transplants would have cured it by now.................

New Stem Cell Treatment “Switches Off” Type 1 Diabetes:
http://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/remarkable-new-method-switches-diabetes-may-lead-future-without-insulin/

Pancreatic Islet Transplantation:
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/insulin-medicines-treatments/pancreatic-islet-transplantation

Regrowth of Beta Cells with Small Molecule Therapy:
https://diabetesresearchconnection.org/cause-view/regrowth-of-beta-cells-with-small-molecule-therapy/?gclid=CKTfkOr9zNUCFUM6gQodMMUBSQ

[Robert357]

bump for reference

[Ms. AntiFeminazi]

This is HUGE. This fixes the problem with the last big breakthrough over 20 years ago. This one counts imo.

I was told 44 years ago when diagnosed (age 11) not to worry too much about it because there would be a cure within 5 yrs. Who wouldn’t be cynical by now? But this one is so huge. Can’t wait to see what the larger study produces.

To all Type 1 diabetics out there - GET A PUMP. It saved my life and will change yours.

[aimhigh]

Too much money being made. This therapy won’t see the light of day from the FDA.

[bgill]

“methinks that many of these advancements get bought up and suppressed.”

Same with cancer and many other diseases. There is no money in cures.

[353FMG]

Type 2 diabetes affects more people than Type 1 does. Hopefully they will develop a vaccine for the former. It will positively impact society similar to that what the Salk vaccine did when it was first developed.

[Dr. Sivana]

They have cured it in mice 5 times over. But I also know what a roadblock the FDA is.

Agreed. But it is a big world out there. Why not take this to Germany, France, S. Korea, Taiwan (R.O.C.), Mexico, South Africa, Phillipines? Somebody must be willing to let the treatment be made available.

[toast]

That’s the only way it’s getting done. This study was done in Britain. That’s the real thing to be cynical about: the US using the rest of the world as guinea pigs.