Tuesday 14 September 2010

Amyloid Protein Can Trigger Diabetes

Amyloid Protein Can Trigger Diabetes

To discover the cause of malfunctioning protein that helps in triggering Type 2 diabetes could present the possibility to stop the harm which it causes, believe researchers. The presence of amyloid protein may create a chain reaction that annihilates essential insulin making cells.

Amyloid is drawn in many other conditions, among them the most notable is Alzheimer’s. The most common form of diabetes is Type 2 diabetes that usually develops in later adulthood. It occurs when the body loses its capability to produce sufficient insulin to manage blood sugar levels and becomes resistant to insulin.

Insulin is produced in beta cells in the pancreas and the deposit of amyloid protein in pancreatic tissue was noticed by researchers in some people with type 2 diabetes. It was believed amyloid could poison the cells directly. But latest research found that a type of immune cell known as macrophage, responded unusually when it ingested amyloid.

Macrophage plays a role in getting rid of debris in the cell. It activates the activity of other angry macrophages that in turn liberate protein which cause inflammation. The inflammation destroys the beta cells and their capability to make insulin is decreased. The finding would encourage new research that aims the devices of the condition.

The lead researcher into amyloid related disease, Dr Eric Hewitt at Leeds University explained that it suggested that they were observing a very complex disease. They knew that amyloid was present in some type 2 diabetes but not others.

This could be helpful when they observing other conditions that may involve amyloid like Alzheimer’s. It offers a potential prospect to disrupt this device at some point in the future and perhaps halt the disease from progressing, added Dr Hewitt.

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