Successful treatment of experimental diabetes

Scientists France and Germany have successfully treated type 1 diabetes in mice with a vaccine made ​​from biological components in our own bodies. This success opened up the opportunity to use immunotherapy for the treatment of autoimmune diseases in humans.

This vaccine contains antigens structure of the mouse pancreas has been modified. That is also the structure of the mouse immune system was attacking the wrong way in the case of mice with type 1 diabetes, a disease resulting from autoimmune disorders (autoimmune disorder) - the same disease Free.

Scientists France and Germany have successfully treated type 1 diabetic mice with vaccines containing antigens their pancreas. (Photo: Petwebsite)

Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system is no longer able to distinguish any structure "our" (ie belonging to the body) and the structure does "not mine" (ie those outside agents from entering the body) as in type 1 diabetes.

Upon the occurrence of severe immune disorders, the immune system, rather than protect, back to the antibodies attack the components of the body. Specifically, the T lymphocytes of the immune system destroys the pancreatic beta cells, insulin-producing organs, endocrine substances essential to control the amount of sugar in the body.

The research results show that the antigen has been modified mouse, can help them against autoimmune diseases. When mice were injected vaccine, their immune system will not attack our own body anymore, help restore normal function of the immune system.

Although not yet know the cause and manner of operation of the mechanism of this effect, the researchers have demonstrated that the protective effect of the vaccine above comes from the successful activation of suppressor cells (suppressor cells) of the immune system.

These suppressor cells only prevents activation of T cells are attacking certain parts of the body, but does not affect the T cells are against external agents from entering the body such as viruses or bacteria. Thus, the immune system restore is able to identify the biological structure of the body and tolerability of the structure rather than attack.

Human pancreas. (Photo: Graphicpulse.com)

Dr. Rotzschke explained: "That is why suppressor cells have become a focus of research in immunology. Suppressing adverse immune response by the vaccine containing antigens of the patient's body will usher in a new direction and basic treatment of autoimmune diseases. "

With this success, the expert said, in principle, they can treat autoimmune diseases by stimulating "active tolerance" of the immune system. According to the team, creating immune effects in the body's own antigens mouse will open a new method for the treatment of all autoimmune diseases.

The immunologist believe may use this therapy to treat not only type 1 diabetes but also other autoimmune diseases.

This study was conducted by Dr. Roland S. Liblau Purpan University Hospital in Toulouse (France), and Kirsten Falk and Dr. Olaf's Rotzschke Center of Molecular Medicine in Berlin-Buch Max Delbrück (Germany) .

The study results, published in the electronic edition of the journal Proceedings of the American National Academy of Sciences (USA).

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce insulin, endocrine substances necessary for glucose from the blood into the cells. This disease comes from an autoimmune disorder in which the body control antibodies attack the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. The cause of this disorder is complex and poorly understood, but may be related to factors such as genetics, viruses, diet, and environmental chemistry. This disease has been called diabetic children, because the disease is usually detected from any or cash teenage youth. Patients with type 1 diabetes must be provided by injecting insulin pump or the other way for a lifetime since the onset. Patients can be treated by grafting or pancreatic beta cells. Immunity is a collection of all the biological mechanisms enable a multicellular body to keep the connection between the cells and tissues, ensuring the integrity of the body by removing the damaged components damage as well as the quality and invasive species. The function protects the body consists of two types of immune mechanisms, in turn appear in the evolution of the species and closely related to each other in the higher animals, including natural immunity (or nonspecific immunity), capable of immediate response; and immune obtained (specific immunity), capable of responding after a few days, with characteristic is the ability to "remember". At the molecular level, both mechanisms are able to distinguish ("identifier") components of the body, ie the "my" with all the other molecules referred to as the "non It ".