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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