Type 1 diabetes is an auto immune condition in which the immune system is activated to destroy insulin producing cells in the pancreas. It has been thought that in Type 1 diabetes, there is a complete loss of insulin production.
However new research from Uppsala University in Sweden, shows that insulin production is not completely lost with the condition.
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition which occurs in childhood and early adolescence and accounts for 10 per cent of all diabetes patients in Australia every year. There are 1.7 million people who have diabetes in Australia.
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The Swedish study found nearly half of the patients who have been living with diabetes for more than 10 years produce some insulin.
113 patients with type 1 diabetes and with disease duration of over 10 years were recruited at Uppsala University Hospital.
The researchers measured the levels of C-peptide in the patients’ blood – an indicator of insulin production, by using the ultrasensitive ELISA test.
The researchers also measured levels of circulating cytokines among the patients, including interleukin-35 (IL-35). Cytokines are proteins which play a key role in cell to cell communication in immune responses and stimulate the movement of cells towards sites of inflammation, infection and trauma.
The researchers found that half the patients with Type 1 diabetes were C-peptide positive – which meant that they had some level of insulin production.
The study also showed a major difference in immune system between patients who had some insulin production and those who had complete loss of insulin production.
Patients with some insulin productions had higher counts of IL-35 in their blood compared to C-Peptide negative patients.
C-peptide positive patients also had more immune cells that produced IL-35 which suppresses immune attacks and prevents it from destroying insulin-producing beta cells.
But the researchers were unable to tell if C-peptide positive patients had higher IL-35 at the time of being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes or if the protein increased over time due to reduced immune attack on beta cells.
Further studies are needed to understand how IL-35 relates to insulin production but the results of this study makes it viable to explore the potential of IL-35 as a drug for the treatment of Type 1 diabetes.
The researchers also indicate that as it has been shown in this study, that almost half the patients have some insulin production, it is possible for patients to test new treatment methods which will encourage the regeneration of remaining beta cells to produce more insulin.
This study has already been initiated at Uppsala University Hospital.
Source: Diabetes Care
