A breakthrough in diabetes treatment from Hebrew U
This is a subject very close to my heart as a very good friend of mine was diagnosed with diabetes 8 months ago. My friend is a great hockey player and baseball player and he has never let diabetes stop him. But the worry is always in the back of his mind.
So I am so happy to see that a massive breakthrough has been made in treating this illness – and it’s the cherry on top to see that its researchers at Hebrew University who are the pathfinders.
Dr. Yuval Dor of the Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada of the Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School and students Zvi Granot, Avital Swisa, Judith Magenheim and Miri Stolovitch-Rain, as well as scientists from Kobe University in Japan, and American researchers from the University of Pennsylvania, Washington University in St. Louis and Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston made this amazing discovery. I can only imagine what its like being a student involved in such an exciting thing!
Basically, they figured out how a specific gene within the pancreas affects secretion of insulin – creating a powerful new weapon for the battle diabetes and diabetes-related health problems, which are on the rise all over the world.
If you your body does not make enough insulin in the pancreas it could result in poorly regulated blood glucose levels and diabetes (excessive blood sugar). As my friend will tell you, diabetes is pretty scary because it can result in conditions like blindness and limb amputation to name but a few. Also, you have to regularly inject yourself with insulin and monitor your blood sugar levels constantly.
This groundbreaking multi-national research team explored the role of LKB1, a gene involved in many cellular functions, whose role in the pancreas was not examined before. They studied the implications of the beta cell-specific loss of the LKB1 gene and discovered that eliminating this gene from beta cells causes the production and secretion of more insulin than normal beta cells, resulting in an enhanced response to increases in blood glucose levels.
Since it was shown that LKB1 negatively regulates both insulin content and secretion, the way has now been opened to the potential development of a novel therapy that could limit the presence of this gene in pancreas beta cells – and enhance insulin secretion.
This has to be news that is cause for celebration for all diabetics and their families out there! It sure is for my friend and his family – and for his friends too.
