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BREMEN, Germany / Young Germany / February 6, 2009
Scientists at the University of Bremen have made a discovery that could be helpful in developing therapies for the treatment of patients suffering with diabetes.
Their study has been published in the February edition of the science journal
Cell Metabolism, which regularly publishes findings in the field of biology.
Daily insulin injections are a fact of life for most diabetics. © picture-alliance/dpa
Kathrin Mädler and her research team from the Centre for Biomolecular Interactions in the departments of biology and chemistry have discovered the inflammatory factor CXCL10 that is involved in the disturbance of insulin production in beta cells.
"We've found a marker that occurs in both types of diabetes," said Mädler.
Research at the University of Bremen.
"If we could protect cells from the CXCL10 it would be possible to prevent the disturbance of the Beta cell mass, which leads to the outbreak of diabetes."
Diabetes appears as either Type I or Type II. Type I occurs when there is a surplus reaction of the immune system. The body's own beta cells are disturbed by high concentrations of inflamed signals.
While scientists have gained significant knowledge about the autoimmune reaction, the cause of the beta cell loss that occurs in Type II Diabetes continues to be debated. Mädler's research team assumes that inflammatory factors also play a key role.
The new discoveries could therefore help to develop appropriate inflammation blockers, to rescue the beta cells from their destruction.
Mädler and her team at the University of Bremen are conducting research into the cause of diabetes. The goal of their work is to find new approaches for the treatment of diabetes.
Source: Young Germany
University of Bremen
Daily insulin injections are a fact of life for most diabetics. © picture-alliance/dpa
Kathrin Mädler and her research team from the Centre for Biomolecular Interactions in the departments of biology and chemistry have discovered the inflammatory factor CXCL10 that is involved in the disturbance of insulin production in beta cells.
"We've found a marker that occurs in both types of diabetes," said Mädler.
Research at the University of Bremen.
"If we could protect cells from the CXCL10 it would be possible to prevent the disturbance of the Beta cell mass, which leads to the outbreak of diabetes."
Diabetes appears as either Type I or Type II. Type I occurs when there is a surplus reaction of the immune system. The body's own beta cells are disturbed by high concentrations of inflamed signals.
While scientists have gained significant knowledge about the autoimmune reaction, the cause of the beta cell loss that occurs in Type II Diabetes continues to be debated. Mädler's research team assumes that inflammatory factors also play a key role.
The new discoveries could therefore help to develop appropriate inflammation blockers, to rescue the beta cells from their destruction.
Mädler and her team at the University of Bremen are conducting research into the cause of diabetes. The goal of their work is to find new approaches for the treatment of diabetes.
Source: Young Germany
University of Bremen
