Eternity Healthcare Inc. (fka ETAH)

[d1abeetus]

Gene that regulates health of cell's powerhouse could be target for developing new diabetes drugs

A team led by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that a susceptibility gene for type 1 diabetes regulates self-destruction of the cell's energy factory. They report their findings this week in Cell.

The pathway central to this gene could be targeted for prevention and control of type-1 diabetes and may extend to the treatment of other metabolic-associated diseases.

The team found that the gene, Clec16a, when in pancreas cells, is required for normal glucose-stimulated insulin release. What's more, people with a variation in the gene sequence near Clec16a have reduced expression of the protein in their islet cells and therefore reduced insulin secretion.

Read more:http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/278559.php