DENVER--A synthetic metalloporphyrin-based antioxidant may be able to
prevent or delay the onset of type I diabetes, according to an animal study
conducted at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and published in
the February 2002 issue of Diabetes (51:347-55, 2002) (http://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org).
Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which T-cells mistakenly target the
body's insulin producing pancreatic cells as foreign invaders. The body then
produces reactive oxygen-derived molecules that destroy insulin producing beta
cells, making it impossible for the body to produce insulin.
Researchers studied the effects of antioxidant therapy on preventing type I
diabetes because islet beta cells have a reduced capacity to scavenge free
radicals. Researchers induced diabetes in mice and found the onset of the
disease was significantly delayed or altogether prevented by the synthetic
antioxidant as compared to the control group. In addition, researchers noted
that the synthetic antioxidant protected cells from oxidative stress.
Researchers further investigated the mechanism of action in vitro and found
that the synthetic antioxidant reduced the immune system's ability to recognize
insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. "The findings that our catalytic
antioxidants alter recognition of beta cells by the immune system and protect
pancreatic islet function in this mouse model of type I diabetes have important
applications," said James Crapo, M.D., a study coauthor. "The study
suggests that these compounds could be used to prevent or delay the onset of
type I diabetes."
AEOL 10113, the prototype catalytic antioxidant used in this study was
manufactured by Research Triangle Park, N.C.-based Incara Pharmaceuticals Corp.
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