 |
|
New study of human pancreases links virus to cause of type 1 diabetes
March 06, 2009Key to success is unique availability of relevant organs for research
A team of researchers from the Peninsula Medical School in the South West of England, the University of Brighton and the Department of Pathology at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, has found that a common family of viruses (enteroviruses) may play an important role in triggering the development of diabetes, particularly in children. These viruses usually cause symptoms similar to the common cold, or vomiting and diarrhoea. However, the team has now provided clear evidence that they are also found frequently in the pancreas of people who develop diabetes.
The research, which was carried out at Peninsula Medical School and funded by Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), is published today, 6th March 2009, in the leading European diabetes journal, Diabetologia. It involved the detailed study of a unique collection of pancreases from 72 young people who died less than a year after the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes usually starts in young people and results from the destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Patients who develop type 1 diabetes have to take multiple daily injections of insulin for the rest of their lives, and the condition affects around 300,000 people in the UK , including 20,000 children under the age of 15. There are a further estimated 440,000 cases of type 1 diabetes in children worldwide, with more than a fifth living in Europe.
It is accepted that children who develop type 1 diabetes inherit a genetic susceptibility to the disease, but studies of identical twins have shown that when one twin has the disease, the other twin will only have approximately a 40 per cent chance of developing diabetes - suggesting that factors additional to inheritance are also involved.
It has long been speculated that viruses might play a role in causing type 1 diabetes by infecting the beta cells of the pancreas. This new research, which has made use of unique source material collected in Glasgow, is the first to provide evidence supporting this theory in such a large number of pancreases from young people recently diagnosed with the disease. It has revealed that more than 60 per cent of the organs contained evidence of enteroviral infection of the beta cells. By contrast, infected beta cells were hardly ever seen in tissue samples from 50 children without the condition.
The new research suggests that enteroviral infection of the beta cells in children with a genetic disposition to type 1 diabetes may initiate a process whereby the body's immune system identifies beta cells as 'foreign' and rejects them, as it would a transplanted organ.
An extension of the study to adults with type 2 diabetes showed that a large proportion (40 per cent) of these patients also had enteroviral infection in their beta cells. This compared with only 13 percent of non-diabetic adults of the same age group. Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes usually starts in adults and is associated with obesity. The beta cells are not destroyed in this disease but their ability to make insulin is compromised. The way that enteroviruses might contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes has not been established but it is known from laboratory studies that an enteroviral infection of beta cells reduces their ability to release insulin. It is possible that in people who are obese (where there is a greatly increased demand for insulin secretion) a reduction of beta cell function, secondary to enteroviral infection, may be sufficient to trigger type 2 diabetes - although more research is required to confirm this.
Overall, the findings of this new study suggest that vaccination in childhood to prevent enteroviral infections of beta cells might be an attractive means to reduce the incidence of both common forms of diabetes. However, there are up to 100 different strains of enterovirus and more research will be needed to identify which particular enteroviruses are associated with the development of diabetes, and whether vaccines could be developed to prevent their spread.
Professor Noel Morgan from the Peninsula Medical School commented: "We are genuinely excited by the findings of our study. This is the first time that scientists have been able to provide such extensive evidence for the relationship between enteroviral infection of the beta cells and the development of type 1 diabetes. This is due in large part to the unique availability of such a large number of pancreases from young people who had died of type 1 diabetes soon after becoming ill. Not only did this give us access to extremely important research material, but it also underlines the importance of continued organ donation to the development of medical research in the UK. "
He added: "The next stages of research - to identify which enteroviruses are involved, how the beta-cells are changed by infection and the ultimate goal to develop an effective vaccine - will lead to findings which we hope will drastically reduce the number of people around the world who develop type 1 diabetes, and potentially type 2 diabetes as well."
Professor Adrian Bone from the University of Brighton said: "It is a real privilege to be part of this work which sheds light on how targeted beta-cell destruction may be triggered in individuals at risk of developing diabetes. Whilst experimental studies from many laboratories, including my own, have been able to document the "natural history" of the disease processes culminating in overt diabetes, the role of viral infections in initiating these events is still unproven and controversial.
"Indeed," he added, "viruses have been shown to be capable of both inducing and preventing the development of diabetes. The true importance of our present study lies in the translation of these earlier experimental findings into meaningful observations in children and young people with diabetes."
Pathologist, Dr Alan Foulis of the Royal Infirmary in Glasgow, observed: "It is 25 years since I started assembling this collection of pancreases from patients with recent onset type 1 diabetes, with the express purpose of looking for the presence of enterovirus. It is only very recently that techniques of sufficient sensitivity to detect the virus in such specimens have been developed. The success of this study is largely down to the excellent scientific collaboration we have enjoyed".
Karen Addington, Chief Executive of JDRF, said: "Type 1 diabetes is a life- threatening condition that requires a life-time of painful finger prick blood testing and insulin injections. Incidences are increasing by four per cent each year and there is currently no way to prevent it. We are proud to have funded this crucial piece of research, which helps shed light on the causes of this serious condition. JDRF passionately believes that research such as this brings us a step closer to improving treatment and eventually curing this condition."
The Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry
Type 1 diabetes usually starts in young people and results from the destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Patients who develop type 1 diabetes have to take multiple daily injections of insulin for the rest of their lives, and the condition affects around 300,000 people in the UK , including 20,000 children under the age of 15. There are a further estimated 440,000 cases of type 1 diabetes in children worldwide, with more than a fifth living in Europe.
It is accepted that children who develop type 1 diabetes inherit a genetic susceptibility to the disease, but studies of identical twins have shown that when one twin has the disease, the other twin will only have approximately a 40 per cent chance of developing diabetes - suggesting that factors additional to inheritance are also involved.
It has long been speculated that viruses might play a role in causing type 1 diabetes by infecting the beta cells of the pancreas. This new research, which has made use of unique source material collected in Glasgow, is the first to provide evidence supporting this theory in such a large number of pancreases from young people recently diagnosed with the disease. It has revealed that more than 60 per cent of the organs contained evidence of enteroviral infection of the beta cells. By contrast, infected beta cells were hardly ever seen in tissue samples from 50 children without the condition.
The new research suggests that enteroviral infection of the beta cells in children with a genetic disposition to type 1 diabetes may initiate a process whereby the body's immune system identifies beta cells as 'foreign' and rejects them, as it would a transplanted organ.
An extension of the study to adults with type 2 diabetes showed that a large proportion (40 per cent) of these patients also had enteroviral infection in their beta cells. This compared with only 13 percent of non-diabetic adults of the same age group. Unlike type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes usually starts in adults and is associated with obesity. The beta cells are not destroyed in this disease but their ability to make insulin is compromised. The way that enteroviruses might contribute to the development of type 2 diabetes has not been established but it is known from laboratory studies that an enteroviral infection of beta cells reduces their ability to release insulin. It is possible that in people who are obese (where there is a greatly increased demand for insulin secretion) a reduction of beta cell function, secondary to enteroviral infection, may be sufficient to trigger type 2 diabetes - although more research is required to confirm this.
Overall, the findings of this new study suggest that vaccination in childhood to prevent enteroviral infections of beta cells might be an attractive means to reduce the incidence of both common forms of diabetes. However, there are up to 100 different strains of enterovirus and more research will be needed to identify which particular enteroviruses are associated with the development of diabetes, and whether vaccines could be developed to prevent their spread.
Professor Noel Morgan from the Peninsula Medical School commented: "We are genuinely excited by the findings of our study. This is the first time that scientists have been able to provide such extensive evidence for the relationship between enteroviral infection of the beta cells and the development of type 1 diabetes. This is due in large part to the unique availability of such a large number of pancreases from young people who had died of type 1 diabetes soon after becoming ill. Not only did this give us access to extremely important research material, but it also underlines the importance of continued organ donation to the development of medical research in the UK. "
He added: "The next stages of research - to identify which enteroviruses are involved, how the beta-cells are changed by infection and the ultimate goal to develop an effective vaccine - will lead to findings which we hope will drastically reduce the number of people around the world who develop type 1 diabetes, and potentially type 2 diabetes as well."
Professor Adrian Bone from the University of Brighton said: "It is a real privilege to be part of this work which sheds light on how targeted beta-cell destruction may be triggered in individuals at risk of developing diabetes. Whilst experimental studies from many laboratories, including my own, have been able to document the "natural history" of the disease processes culminating in overt diabetes, the role of viral infections in initiating these events is still unproven and controversial.
"Indeed," he added, "viruses have been shown to be capable of both inducing and preventing the development of diabetes. The true importance of our present study lies in the translation of these earlier experimental findings into meaningful observations in children and young people with diabetes."
Pathologist, Dr Alan Foulis of the Royal Infirmary in Glasgow, observed: "It is 25 years since I started assembling this collection of pancreases from patients with recent onset type 1 diabetes, with the express purpose of looking for the presence of enterovirus. It is only very recently that techniques of sufficient sensitivity to detect the virus in such specimens have been developed. The success of this study is largely down to the excellent scientific collaboration we have enjoyed".
Karen Addington, Chief Executive of JDRF, said: "Type 1 diabetes is a life- threatening condition that requires a life-time of painful finger prick blood testing and insulin injections. Incidences are increasing by four per cent each year and there is currently no way to prevent it. We are proud to have funded this crucial piece of research, which helps shed light on the causes of this serious condition. JDRF passionately believes that research such as this brings us a step closer to improving treatment and eventually curing this condition."
The Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry
Diabetes Current Events and Diabetes News RSSStudy suggests dentists can identify patients at risk for fatal cardiovascular event
A new study indicates dentists can play a potentially life-saving role in health care by identifying patients at risk of fatal heart attacks and referring them to physicians for further evaluation.
Physical education key to improving health in low-income adolescents
School-based physical education plays a key role in curbing obesity and improving fitness among adolescents from low-income communities, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco and UC Berkeley.
New class of molecules may help prevent fatal complication in patients with kidney disease
Researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine have made an important discovery about why potassium builds up to dangerous levels in the bloodstream, a relatively common medical problem that affects about eight percent of hospitalized patients.
AAP supports the IDF guideline on oral health for people with diabetes
New clinical guidelines released by the International Diabetes Foundation (IDF) emphasize the importance of periodontal health for people with diabetes.
American Dietetic Association Releases Updated Position Paper Promoting and Supporting Breastfeeding
The American Dietetic Association has released an updated position paper on breastfeeding that details health benefits for both infants and mothers and encourages promotion of breastfeeding whenever possible.
Study: Lap band surgery effective for morbidly obese children
A surgeon at Children's National Medical Center and his colleagues from New York University have found laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (Lap band) to improve the health of morbidly obese adolescents.
Reduction in glycotoxins from heat-processing of foods reduces risk of chronic disease
Researchers from Mount Sinai School of Medicine report that cutting back on the consumption of processed and fried foods, which are high in toxins called Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs), can reduce inflammation and actually help restore the body's natural defenses regardless of age or health status.
Researchers discover links between city walkability and air pollution exposure
A new study compares neighborhoods' walkability (degree of ease for walking) with local levels of air pollution and finds that some neighborhoods might be good for walking, but have poor air quality.
Researchers identify the three killer indicators that are even worse than high cholesterol
Researchers at the University of Warwick have identified a particular combination of health problems that can double the risk of heart attack and cause a three-fold increase in the risk of mortality.
UM Scientists Create Fruit Fly Model to Help Unravel Genetics of Human Diabetes
As rates of obesity, diabetes, and related disorders have reached epidemic proportions in the US in recent years, scientists are working from many angles to pinpoint the causes and contributing factors involved in this public health crisis.
More Diabetes Current Events and Diabetes News Articles
 |
The First Year: Type 2 Diabetes: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed (First Year, The) by Gretchen Becker (Author), Allison B. Goldfine (Foreword) After Gretchen Becker was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 1996, she educated herself on every aspect of this chronic condition — by reading medical and scientific books and journals, talking with doctors and listening to her own body. In 2001, she marshaled everything she had learned as a "patient-expert" into the first edition of this book, which she has now completely updated and revised. The First Year®—Type 2 Diabetes uniquely guides you step-by-step through your first year with diabetes, walking you through everything you need to learn and do each day of your first week after diagnosis, each subsequent week of the first month, and each subsequent month of the crucial first year. In clear, concise, accessible language, Becker covers a wide range of practical, medical, and... |
 |
Diabetes Health Pack-Nature Made Multivitamin & Mineral Supplement, 60 Packets by Nature Made Nature Made® Diabetes Health Pack provides essential nutrients that may be lacking due to the strain diabetes can often put on the bodys health. Each pack provides a complete, full potency formulation of vitamins, minerals and alpha lipoic acid. |
 |
Diabetes For Dummies (For Dummies (Health & Fitness)) by Alan L. Rubin MD (Author) Covers the latest glucose meters and insulin treatments The straight facts on treating diabetes successfully and living a full life Want to know how to manage diabetes? Leading diabetes expert Dr. Alan Rubin gives you reassuring, authoritative guidance in putting together a state-of-the-art treatment program. You'll learn about all the advances in monitoring glucose, the latest medications, and how to develop a diet and exercise plan to stay healthy. You'll also see how to overcome insurance and on-the-job obstacles. Discover how to: Reduce your diabetes risk Understand the different types of diabetes Manage diabetes in children and the elderly Prevent long-term complications Get the support you need |
 |
The Official Pocket Guide to Diabetic Exchanges by American Diabetes Association (Author) Every day, every meal, millions and millions of people count on the world-famous Exchange Lists for Meal Planning to make sure they're choosing the right kinds of foods and portion sizes from the various food groups. Now people with diabetes can take the Exchange Lists with them to the grocery store or to restaurants with the Official Pocket Guide to Diabetic Exchanges. Measuring just 3.5" x 6", this little powerhouse is jam-packed with the exact same information found in the standard exchange lists, yet it fits conveniently into a purse or coat pocket. |
 |
Blood Sugar 101: What They Don't Tell You About Diabetes by Jenny Ruhl (Author) Based on the award winning Bloodsugar101.com web site, this book explains what peer-reviewed research published in top medical journals has to say about: What is a normal blood sugar? How does diabetes develop? What really causes diabetes? What blood sugar levels cause complications? Must you deteriorate? What diet is right for you? How can you make that diet work? What medications are safe? What supplements lower blood sugar? Written in clear and understandable language, this book provides all the tools needed to understand how blood sugar works and achieve blood sugar health. |
 |
OneTouch UltraMini Glucose Monitoring System, Silver Moon by OneTouch - LifeScan Black color only. |
 |
The 30-Day Diabetes Miracle: Lifestyle Center of America's Complete Program to Stop Diabetes, Restore Health,and Build Natural Vitality by Franklin House (Author), Stuart A. Seale (Author), Ian Blake Newman (Author) A revolutionary program for combating and reversing diabetes. Over the past ten years, Lifestyle Center of America has emerged as the center in the country that offers a proven-successful program to combat diabetes-and even reverse its adverse effects on the body. Now available in book form for the first time, LCA's program enables individuals to actually get to the root of their problems by teaching them the ways of lifestyle-change, the power of diet, activity, and stress management. It also shows how to: - Eliminate counterproductive habits - Adopt therapeutic and preventative nutritional changes - Overcome insulin resistance with a new lifestyle medicine paradigm - Achieve motivation and inspiration through pro-active healthcare coaching - Understand the extraordinary benefits of a... |
 |
Betty Crocker's Diabetes Cookbook: Everyday Meals, Easy as 1-2-3 by Betty Crocker Editors (Author) At last! This special cookbook puts flavor and choice back on the menu for people with diabetes and their families Betty Crocker, America's most trusted friend in the kitchen, has teamed up with the International Diabetes Center (IDC)--one of the leading medical centers--to create an indispensable source of easy-to-make recipes and up-to-the-minute food and nutrition information for the growing numbers of people who have diabetes, more than 15 million of them. Here is the first cookbook to include recipes featuring Carbohydrate Choices--the new, simplified approach to meal planning recommended by the American Diabetes Association. For people who find diet exchanges too hard, too limiting or too much work, this new method is a real breakthrough. Each of the book's 140 recipes... |
 |
Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution: The Complete Guide to Achieving Normal Blood Sugars by Richard K. Bernstein (Author) The standard text on living with diabetes, newly revised and updated with all the latest scientific findings. Since its first publication in 1997, DR. BERNSTEIN'S DIABETES SOLUTION has become the treatment of choice in the medical field. In this revised and updated edition of his work, Dr. Bernstein provides an accessible, detailed guide to his revolutionary approach to normalizing blood sugars and thereby preventing or reversing long-term complications of diabetes. He offers the most up-to-date information on new products, medications, and supplements, and outlines a plan to reverse the obesity that underlies most cases of Type II diabetes. Dr. Bernstein discusses breakthrough science and potential cures, and has added information on the new insulins and insulin ... |
 |
Nature Made Diabetes Health Pack with Lutein , Multivitamin and Mineral Supplement, 30-Count Boxes (Pack of 2) by Nature Made Nature Made Diabetes Health Pack 30 Days |
| © 2009 BrightSurf.com |