Diabetes drug
to correct metabolic abnormalities Type 2 diabetes is a major public health problem that affects millions of people worldwide, so developing new drugs to help better treat its underlying causes is something of a priority. An international team of scientists has now developed a peptide known as PATAS, part of a new class of antidiabetic drugs, which can correct the metabolic abnormalities leading to type 2 diabetes and its associated comorbidities — including insulin resistance.
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pharma
The researchers then went on to focus more closely on ALMS1 and how it interacts with other proteins within the adipocytes. In particular, they have shown that in the absence of insulin, ALMS1 binds to another protein called PKC alpha. The activation of insulin in the adipocytes induces the separation of ALMS1 and PKC alpha, resulting in glucose entry into cells. In people with diabetes, who are insulin-resistant, this link between the two proteins is maintained.
The role of adipocytes
Drawing on this knowledge, the scientists
In previous research, published in 2020, the research
developed the peptide PATAS, which works by
team had identified a new therapeutic target for
breaking the interaction between ALMS1 and PKC
type 2 diabetes when investigating an ultra-rare
alpha — thus restoring insulin signalling in the
he prevalence of type 2 diabetes, which is
monogenic disease known as Alström syndrome.
adipocytes. Their latest study, conducted on animal
characterised by high levels of glucose in the blood,
They showed that adipose tissue abnormalities
models and published in the journal Diabetes,
has been increasing for decades due to population
caused by a dysfunctional protein called ALMS1 led
confirms that PATAS restores glucose uptake in
aging, inactivity and poor diet. Available drugs treat
to extremely severe insulin resistance associated with
the adipocytes, resulting in the treatment of insulin
the consequences of type 2 diabetes by focusing mainly
early-onset type 2 diabetes in people with Alström
resistance with beneficial effects on the whole body.
on lowering blood glucose, but they do not target
syndrome. In animal models, restoring the function
“Thanks to PATAS, the adipocytes that could no
the underlying biological mechanism that causes
of this protein within the adipocytes re-established
longer access glucose were once again able to absorb
the disease. Furthermore, despite the need for new
blood glucose balance.
it and then metabolise it in order to synthesise and secrete lipids which are beneficial to the entire body,”
disruptive therapeutic innovations to reach market
Marion said. “These positive effects are visible in our
in over a decade. This is the objective of the research led by Vincent Marion, from the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm), and his team at the University of Strasbourg. In collaboration with the
Image courtesy Vincent Marion.
and more effective treatments, there have been no
animal models, with a marked improvement in insulin resistance. Other parameters and comorbidities are also improved, including better blood glucose control and decreased liver fibrosis and steatosis.” The successful development of a new class of
University of Birmingham and Monash University,
antidiabetic drugs could have significant implications
the scientists developed a product called PATAS
for public health, not only to treat type 2 diabetes but
in a new class of diabetes drugs called ‘Adipeutics’. PATAS works by specifically targeting the adipocytes (fat cells), restoring glucose entry and thus correcting and re-establishing the metabolic physiology of the adipose tissue.
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also many other cardio-metabolic disorders in which Mouse visceral adipose tissue fluorescently labelled; nuclei coloured blue.
dysfunctional adipocytes and insulin resistance are problematic. And with promising results in animals, the researchers plan on organising a clinical trial as soon as possible, in order to test PATAS in humans.
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