In the ongoing fight against chronic diseases, the medical and scientific arena is constantly proposing solutions and alternatives to the “traditional” process, sometimes considered “outdated”. In this never-ending quest, a research team from the University of Helsinki in Finland recently unveiled a shocking and impressive discovery: a drug initially designed to treat psoriasis could also prevent type 1 diabetes.
A ray of sunshine in the gloom? So far, nothing has been confirmed, and clinical trials are still ongoing. Indeed, according to this study published in the journal Nature Communicationsresearchers found the effectiveness of the drug known as Deucravacitinibwhich has already received approval from the Food and Drug Administration American FDA, to inhibit the gene linked to the development of the disease.
The study is based on the hypothesis that inhibiting the expression of the TYK2 gene can reduce the destruction of pancreatic beta cells responsible for insulin production, these cells being destroyed in cases of type 1 diabetes, forcing patients to use insulin injections.
The researchers confirmed the validity of this hypothesis, with the drug showing an effective ability to prevent beta cell destruction by reducing the activity of the TYK2 gene.
Quoted by the same source, Timo Otonkoski, professor at the University of Helsinki and lead researcher of the study, explained that the destruction of beta cells is caused by an autoimmune reaction, where white blood cells, activated by the immune system, attack the body’s tissues. But when using the TYK2 gene inhibitor approved for the treatment of psoriasis, this destruction decreases significantly.
Based on these results, obtained through laboratory experiments on human cells, the TYK2 gene inhibitor is considered a promising candidate for the prevention of type 1 diabetes. The next steps will be to study its effect on animal models, and if the results are positive, clinical trials will be undertaken.
In a similar vein, a new clinical study led by Cardiff University has found that a common drug has been shown to be effective in treating the early stages of type 1 diabetes in children and adolescents.
The research team found that the drug Ustekinumaban immune treatment used for psoriasis since 2009, is effective in maintaining the body’s ability to produce insulin in patients with type 1 diabetes.
Researcher Daniela Tatuvici said: “Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system attacks and destroys the body’s cells that produce insulin, requiring patients to use insulin injections. Researchers are now working on ways to slow or stop this attack by the immune system, which could prevent or reduce the need for insulin.”
The study provided new insights into the identification of the immune cells involved (Th17 cells) that cause type 1 diabetes and also demonstrated the role of immune treatments in reducing the destruction of insulin-producing cells.
Researchers tested the psoriasis treatment on 72 adolescents aged 12 to 18 with type 1 diabetes. After 12 months of using the drug Ustekinumabthe researchers found that levels of C-peptide (a marker of the body’s insulin production) were 49 percent higher.
Further clinical trials are needed to confirm this finding and determine which patients would benefit most.
Professor Tim Tree, of King’s College London, said: “We found that the drug Ustekinumab reduces the level of a small group of immune cells in the blood (Th17.1 cells). These cells represent only 1 in 1000 of the immune cells in the blood, but they play a crucial role in destroying insulin-producing cells. This explains the effectiveness of the drug Ustekinumab with very few side effects, because it targets the cells responsible for the damage while leaving 99% of the immune system intact.”
