Study Reveals Potential New Treatment for Diabetics

INA-  sources 

Researchers have revealed the mechanisms behind the relationship of a certain molecule to the regulation of insulin sensitivity, paving the way for a potential treatment for patients with type 2 diabetes linked to obesity.

Researchers from Children's Hospital (CHOP) in Philadelphia, USA, discovered an RNA molecule, which is a small non-coding RNA molecule responsible for controlling certain aspects of gene expression, called miR-6236.

The new study investigated the secrets of macrophages (immune cells that remove dead cells and repair tissues), as adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) maintain the health of adipose tissue, or body fat, to function normally, and while performing their basic functions, ATMs secrete small vesicles containing important molecules.

The study revealed that ATMs secrete miR-6236 in cases of obesity, and researchers found that miR-6236 is found at high levels in the serum of patients suffering from obesity. ATMs are thought to secrete miR-6236 during obesity to improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the risk of hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance.

 Dr. David, a researcher in the Department of Allergy and Immunology at CHOP and lead author of the study, said: "This small RNA has been mischaracterized previously, but we were able to confirm the key role it plays in regulating insulin signaling, through two mouse models and a large group of mice." "Data on people at risk for metabolic diseases, and findings like this, show that the immune system is essential for healthy metabolism, and paves the way for the development of new treatments." It is worth noting that type 2 diabetes is a complex, chronic disease that a person develops when the body cannot produce enough insulin or use it effectively, and people with type 2 diabetes need treatment to always keep insulin and blood sugar levels under control.

Source: QNA