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Science protein deposits are a cause of type 2 diabetes
Researchers now found that protein deposits in the pancreas could lead to a better understanding of type 2 diabetes. The protein called amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) deposits in the pancreas of people with type 2 diabetes. It is still unclear whether these deposits cause the disease or whether they occur only after the disease.
The McGovern Medical School's doctors at the University of Texas Health Science Center have now taken a major step in understanding type 2 diabetes. Certain protein deposits appear to be present in almost all patients with type 2 diabetes. In animal studies on mice, it was observed that when mice received amyloid polypeptide, the animals subsequently developed symptoms of type 2 diabetes. The physicians published the results of their study in the journal "The Journal of Experimental Medicine".
Many people around the world are suffering from type 2 diabetes. Scientists have now discovered that certain protein deposits may be involved in the development of the disease. (Image: dmitrimaruta / fotolia.com) Mice with amyloid polypeptide developed symptoms of type 2 diabetes
The scientists injected the protein amyloid polypeptide into mice. So they wanted to better understand the role of the protein in type 2 diabetes. Mice with the protein developed symptoms of type 2 diabetes, such as the death of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas and high blood sugar levels. The study team also injected the protein into the pancreatic tissue of healthy human donors.
The deposits lead to type 2 diabetes?
Almost all patients with type 2 diabetes have these protein deposits. The experts do not know yet whether the disease leads to the deposits or vice versa. I think amyloid polypeptide is really important for the development of type 2 diabetes, so we conducted the animal studies, explains author Professor Claudio Soto.
How does type 2 diabetes develop??
Type 2 diabetes begins with insulin resistance. Insulin helps the body to bring sugar from food into the cells of the body. So the sugar can be used as energy. When people are insulin-resistant, their body can not use the sugar from the diet efficiently, the scientists explain. To compensate for this, the beta cells in the pancreas produce more insulin. At some point, the pancreas can no longer produce enough insulin, beta cells die off, and type 2 diabetes develops.
Thus, the amyloid polypeptide might be involved in type 2 diabetes
How could amyloid polypeptide be involved in type 2 diabetes? As insulin production increases, so does the amyloid polypeptide. The excess protein then accumulates in the pancreas, Professor Soto speculates.
Protein misfolding can cause large deposits and damage to beta cells
A small number of so-called protein misfoldings could then serve as a sort of seed promoting the production of further protein misfolding. Finally, large deposits then lead to damage to the beta cells, explain the doctors. This process also occurs in a similar form in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. In addition, these protein deposits are similar to the deposits in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, the scientists explain.
Can protein seeds be transferred to other people?
It may even be possible that so-called protein seeds are transmitted from one person to another, Professor Soto speculates. The transmission is not comparable to a cold or flu. More likely, the transfer would be through an organ transplant or a blood transfusion, the expert adds.
Results could lead to earlier diagnosis of type 2 diabetes
If the study is validated by other studies, the information could be used to prevent Type 2 diabetes, Professor Soto explains. The information could also lead to an earlier diagnosis of the condition. Scientists could develop new types of treatment to eliminate or at least reduce their deposits, adds the author.
Further research is needed
Many critics explain that so far there is no clinical evidence for the contagious effects of type 2 diabetes. Further research is now needed to determine the role of these amyloid deposits in the beta cells. Also, a review of the current results by other study teams is required. (As)