Data on diabetes published by researchers at University of Pennsylvania
2009 JUL 13 - (NewsRx.com) -- According to recent research from the United States, "Regeneration of the insulin-secreting beta-cells is a fundamental research goal that could benefit patients with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. beta-Cell proliferation can be acutely stimulated by a variety of stimuli in young rodents. However, it is unknown whether this adaptive beta-cell regeneration capacity is retained into old age." "We assessed adaptive beta-cell proliferation capacity in adult mice across a wide range of ages with a variety Of stimuli: partial pancreatectomy, low-dose administration of the beta-cell toxin streptozotocin, and exendin-4, a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist. beta-Cell proliferation was measured by administration of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) in the drinking water. Basal beta-cell proliferation was severely decreased with advanced age. Partial pancreatectomy greatly Stimulated beta-cell proliferation in young mice but failed to increase beta-cell replication in old mice. Streptozotocin stimulated beta-cell replication in Young mice but had little effect in old mice. Moreover, administration of GLP-1 agonist exendin-4 stimulated beta-cell proliferation in Young but not in old mice. Surprisingly, adaptive beta-cell proliferation capacity was minimal after 12 months of age, which is early middle age for the adult mouse life span. Adaptive beta-cell proliferation is severely restricted with advanced age in mice, whether stimulated by partial pancreatectomy, low-dose streptozotocin, or exendin-. Thus, beta-cells in middle-aged mice appear to be largely postmitotic," wrote M.M. Rankin and colleagues, University of Pennsylvania. The researchers concluded: "Young rodents may not faithfully model the regenerative capacity of beta-cells in mature adult mice. Diabetes 58:1365-1372, 2009'." Rankin and colleagues published their study in Diabetes (Adaptive beta-cell Proliferation Is Severely Restricted With Advanced Age. Diabetes, 2009;58(6):1365-1372). For additional information, contact J.A. Kushner, University of Pennsylvania, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, School Medical, Division Endocrinol & Diabetes, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Publisher contact information for the journal Diabetes is: American Diabetes Association, 1701 N Beauregard St., Alexandria, VA 22311-1717, USA. Keywords: United States, Philadelphia, Cell Proliferation, Drugs, Gastroenterology, Glucagon Hydrochloride, Non-insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, Pancreas, Pancreatectomy, Pharmaceuticals, Therapy, Treatment, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, University of Pennsylvania. This article was prepared by Diabetes Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Diabetes Week via NewsRx.com.
|
