Advances in genetic engineering in the treatment of diabetes

Pharmacological induction of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, for example, to overcome resistance in type 2 diabetes, is characterized by an insufficient physiological rhythm of glycemic regulation.

In experiments with cultures of β-cells that express photosensitive adenylate cyclase, the possibility of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, as a result of potentiation of cellular activity by light pulses, has previously been proven.

However, the possibility of photoactivation of adenylate cyclase with a subsequent increase in insulin secretion in the regulation of diabetic conditions and insulin resistance remained unknown.

Find out in the article on estet-portal.com how promising genetic engineering methods are in the treatment of diabetes diabetes.

• Research on genetically modified β-cells in the treatment of diabetes mellitus
• Modern methods of diabetes treatment depending on the type of disease
• Optogenetics − a new therapeutic direction in the treatment of diabetes mellitus Research on genetically modified β-cells in the treatment of diabetes mellitus In a recent study, researchers from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, USA, reported the results of successful transplantation of genetically modified β
-cells

in laboratory animals with simulated diabetes mellitus with subsequent induction of insulin synthesis by them under the influence of

photostimuli

.

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Regulation of the endocrine activity of pancreatic cells with light pulses made it possible to increase the level of insulin secretion by 2-3 times without resorting to methods of pharmacological intervention.

The first findings of preclinical experiments allowed scientists to speculate about the possibility of future application of this method for compensation of reduced insulin response in individuals with pre-diabetic conditions and forI in the treatment of diabetes.

Basic approaches to the treatment of metabolic syndrome

Modern methods of treatment of diabetes mellitus depending on the type of disease

Insulin is a hormone that plays a central role in the regulation of glycemia. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, USA, about 30 million Americans currently have a confirmed diagnosis of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes

− the most common form of the disease, in which there is insensitivity of body cells to insulin, as a result of which blood glucose levels can reach dangerously high levels, while the compensatory capabilities of the pancreas progressively decrease.

In type 1 diabetes, processes of autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β-cells are observed, which leads to absolute insulin deficiency.

Modern methods of treating diabetes mellitus involve the use of drugs that

increase insulin production by

beta;-cells

of the pancreas, or

direct insulin replacement therapy

, which complements the physiological synthesis of the hormone.

Each of the options for blood glucose regulation is a mechanical process in which pharmacological intervention with oral medications or insulin administration occurs after periodic measurements of glycemia. At the same time, it is the mechanical approach that is the main source of

uncontrolled fluctuations in blood glucose

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Optogenetics − a new therapeutic direction in the treatment of diabetes mellitus

In the present research project, the authors pursued the goal of developing a

new way to activate insulin synthesis while maintaining the important real-time relationship between insulin release and blood glucose concentration. This has been made possible thanks to the possibilities of optogenetics

− genetic approach using proteins that change their activity on demand in response to light impulses.

With this in mind, the researchers designed β-cells with a gene that expresses the photosensitive adenylate cyclase.

Adenylate cyclase activity leads to an increase in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels when exposed to blue light, the effect of which, in turn, promotes

glucose-stimulated insulin synthesis in

βIt has been established that insulin synthesis can increase up to 2-3 times, but only in conditions of high blood glucose levels. With negligible glycemia, insulin production remains low.

This action prevents and avoids the common disadvantages of diabetes treatment by overdosing of insulin and further lowering blood glucose levels to dangerously low values.

What contributes to the development of type 1 diabetes

According to the results of an experimental study, it was found that subcutaneous transplantation of modified

?beta;-cells to laboratory rodents with simulated diabetes mellitus improves tolerance and regulation of glucose levels, decrease in glycemia and increase in plasma insulin levels when exposed to blue light pulses.

The presented method demonstrates the possibility of better control and maintenance of proper glycemic parameters without additional pharmacological interventions.

In this way, cells synthesize insulin naturally, maintaining a constant rhythm of the functional activity of regulatory circuits.

Emphasizing the significance of the study, the authors pointed out that the possibilities of optogenetic approaches based on the activity of photosensitive proteins are now being studied in many physiological systems and effectively stimulate efforts to develop therapeutic directions for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.