Researchers Identify Gene Variant That Indicates Type 1 Diabetes Risk
A press release issued July 15th, from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, announced that scientists have identified a gene variant that predicts which children may be at risk for type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes affects children and young adults, although cases of type 1 diabetes have occurred in people 40 and older. The insulin producing cells in the pancreas are destroyed by the child's immune system. Kids with type 1 are dependent on insulin injections for life.
In two separate phases of the trial, scientists not only rechecked four previously discovered type 1 diabetes gene indicators, but discovered another type 1 gene labeled KIAA0350. It appears that KIAA0350 is active in immune cells and is a component of "natural killer" cells that usually protect the body from foreign invaders, but if KIAA0350 experiences a mutation, it may trigger an autoimmune attack of the islet cells in the pancreas, thereby causing permanent destruction of the cells.
Constantin Polychronakos, M.D., director of Pediatric Endocrinology at McGill University and senior author of the study states,"If we know the gene pathways that give rise to type 1 diabetes, we hope to intervene early in life with targeted drugs or cell therapies to prevent the disease from developing".
Although these gene variants have been identified, there is a lot of research left to do, to utilize this information and turn it into a life saving strategy for kids at risk for type 1 diabetes.
Photo by Steve Woods
Comments
Finally! A way to check out people who will have their beta cells(islets) destroyed by this virus that invades our body and triggers the autoiommune reaction that causes us to destroy a part of us. Now a test should be developed to inform persons of this potential for Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1.
Then perhaps now we will be able to develop a preventive technology to correct this diabetic condition.
type 1 diabetes doesnt strike mainly children. It’s a lifelong disorder. I was diagnosed when i was 22 years old. Its not juvenile diabetes. read a book written in the 21st century.
My great-grandfather, grandfather and father were diagnosed in their early 50’s with type 1. My 2 sons were diagnosed at ages 7 and 5. Dr’s have tried to tell us it’s not hereditary. LOL! Thanks to all those working on a cure and recognizing that it’s in our genes. Anyone out there heard of pastuerized milk triggering this? Natural enzymes and healthy bacteria are apparently destroyed during the process. The pancreas has to work hard at producing digestive enzymes no longer in the milk and the bacteria supposedly helps provide a healthy immune system. My family elders were raised on raw milk til their 30’s. My boys were given pastuerized in a bottle from age 1 as a main source of nutrition per the American Acadamy of Pediatric guidelines encouraged by our pediatrician. Scandanavia has the highest incident of type 1 and I understand that milk is amoung their research as a trigger.