People with Type 1 diabetes have certain antibodies in their blood that relate to specific molecules in the pancreas, which they hunt down and destroy.
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While some of the targets were identified decades ago, researchers have been looking for the fifth target for over 20 years. The researchers are also looking into ways to use the molecule to block an immune attack, and in turn prevent diabetes from developing at all. Working out the University of Lincoln in the United Kingdom, a team was able to identify the fifth and final molecule attacked by the immune system in Type 1 of the condition.
People with Type 1 diabetes tend to have antibodies in their blood that are specifically linked to each of the molecules that are attacked by the immune system.
The research conducted by the Suny Downstate Medical Center found that diabetes not only reduces life expectancy in patients who have type 2 diabetes but also leads to hearing problems and sometimes may lead to deafness in near future.
Having Type 2 Diabetes can increase a person’s risk of damaging his auditory system, finds a new research.
Type 1 diabetes can develop at any age, but usually appears before the age of 40, particularly in childhood.
Screening for antibodies against the four molecules found in the pancreas is now used to assess a person’s risk of Type 1 diabetes. Christie and his team were able to identify this molecule as Tetraspanin-7.
In a study published on the Diabetes journal, a research group at the University of Lincoln in England claimed they have discovered the last critical target that the immune system errantly attacks in patients with type 1 diabetes.
Christie said that now, since they know the identity of the molecule, they can exploit it to make strides in diabetes prediction and immunotherapy.
Researchers in the United Kingdom and Italy have identified the fifth and final molecule, called tetraspanin-7.
Hearing impairment has been linked to type 2 diabetes, and American researchers Dr Elizabeth Helzner and Dr Kevin J. Contrera set about investigating this relationship in several population-based studies.
“Dr. Christie’s impressive research is helping us to do just that”, she said.
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He said: “Once the immune system decides it wants to get rid of something it’s very hard to stop, so diabetes has proved to be a difficult disease to prevent”.
