I don't know, but a preventive dose couldn't do any harm. I'd best go find some right away! =]
Posted on 12/15/2006 8:44:37 AM PST by kellynla
In a discovery that has stunned even those behind it, scientists at a Toronto hospital say they have proof the body's nervous system helps trigger diabetes, opening the door to a potential near-cure of the disease that affects millions of Canadians.
Diabetic mice became healthy virtually overnight after researchers injected a substance to counteract the effect of malfunctioning pain neurons in the pancreas.
"I couldn't believe it," said Dr. Michael Salter, a pain expert at the Hospital for Sick Children and one of the scientists. "Mice with diabetes suddenly didn't have diabetes any more."
The researchers caution they have yet to confirm their findings in people, but say they expect results from human studies within a year or so. Any treatment that may emerge to help at least some patients would likely be years away from hitting the market.
But the excitement of the team from Sick Kids, whose work is being published today in the journal Cell, is almost palpable.
"I've never seen anything like it," said Dr. Hans Michael Dosch, an immunologist at the hospital and a leader of the studies. "In my career, this is unique."
Their conclusions upset conventional wisdom that Type 1 diabetes, the most serious form of the illness that typically first appears in childhood, was solely caused by auto-immune responses -- the body's immune system turning on itself.
They also conclude that there are far more similarities than previously thought between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, and that nerves likely play a role in other chronic inflammatory conditions, such as asthma and Crohn's disease.
The "paradigm-changing" study opens "a novel, exciting door to address one of the diseases with large societal impact," said Dr. Christian Stohler, a leading U.S. pain specialist and dean of dentistry at the University of Maryland, who has reviewed the work.
"The treatment and diagnosis of neuropathic diseases is poised to take a dramatic leap forward because of the impressive research."
About two million Canadians suffer from diabetes, 10% of them with Type 1, contributing to 41,000 deaths a year.
Insulin replacement therapy is the only treatment of Type 1, and cannot prevent many of the side effects, from heart attacks to kidney failure.
In Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to shift glucose into the cells that need it. In Type 2 diabetes, the insulin that is produced is not used effectively -- something called insulin resistance -- also resulting in poor absorption of glucose.
The problems stem partly from inflammation -- and eventual death -- of insulin-producing islet cells in the pancreas.
Dr. Dosch had concluded in a 1999 paper that there were surprising similarities between diabetes and multiple sclerosis, a central nervous system disease. His interest was also piqued by the presence around the insulin-producing islets of an "enormous" number of nerves, pain neurons primarily used to signal the brain that tissue has been damaged.
Suspecting a link between the nerves and diabetes, he and Dr. Salter used an old experimental trick -- injecting capsaicin, the active ingredient in hot chili peppers, to kill the pancreatic sensory nerves in mice that had an equivalent of Type 1 diabetes.
"Then we had the biggest shock of our lives," Dr. Dosch said. Almost immediately, the islets began producing insulin normally "It was a shock ? really out of left field, because nothing in the literature was saying anything about this."
It turns out the nerves secrete neuropeptides that are instrumental in the proper functioning of the islets. Further study by the team, which also involved the University of Calgary and the Jackson Laboratory in Maine, found that the nerves in diabetic mice were releasing too little of the neuropeptides, resulting in a "vicious cycle" of stress on the islets.
So next they injected the neuropeptide "substance P" in the pancreases of diabetic mice, a demanding task given the tiny size of the rodent organs. The results were dramatic.
The islet inflammation cleared up and the diabetes was gone. Some have remained in that state for as long as four months, with just one injection.
They also discovered that their treatments curbed the insulin resistance that is the hallmark of Type 2 diabetes, and that insulin resistance is a major factor in Type 1 diabetes, suggesting the two illnesses are quite similar.
While pain scientists have been receptive to the research, immunologists have voiced skepticism at the idea of the nervous system playing such a major role in the disease. Editors of Cell put the Toronto researchers through vigorous review to prove the validity of their conclusions, though an editorial in the publication gives a positive review of the work.
"It will no doubt cause a great deal of consternation," said Dr. Salter about his paper.
The researchers are now setting out to confirm that the connection between sensory nerves and diabetes holds true in humans. If it does, they will see if their treatments have the same effects on people as they did on mice.
Nothing is for sure, but "there is a great deal of promise," Dr. Salter said.
if I had diabetis I'd be getting a bottle of this TODAY, and hope that dosing myself with it would allow some of it to work its way thru circulation into the pancreas.....I believe that at least SOME would get there, and that it is otherwise harmless:
http://www.sweatnspice.com/proddetail.php?prod=67
This is potentially a very big deal for almost everyone who draws breath. But if I had a dollar for every "it works on mice but won't be tried on humans for at least 2 years" medical breakthrough story that was never heard from again, I'd be rich. I would love to think this one will pan out, but we certainly do seem to have a lot of researchers getting grants off results that hit the news with a splash and, for whatever reason, never deliver. As always, time will tell.
Me too! Only, I am a diabetic!
As a parent of TWO type 1's, I hope this turns into something.
Have a Coke (tm) and a Smile!
I don't know, but a preventive dose couldn't do any harm. I'd best go find some right away! =]
Ho. Lee. Crap. I hope and pray that this works for my kid.
But this will only help Canadians...apparently.
Never underestimate the power of negative thinking.
"Will the wonders of embryonic stem cells never cease? Oh ... wait ...."
No, it isn't stem cell research, but it is biology -- the same biology that, applied as natural selection, mustn't be taught lest it contradict beliefs of ancient desert tribes.
I agree, the news is stunning and miraculous. My concern is that research and testing isn't stalled. Multi-billions are spent on Type 2 drugs and insulin.
There's certainly an increased risk of ill effects, but the evidence is overwhelming that if one can keep reasonable control the chances are greatly reduced.
I lost my wife to diabetes, and my new wife is a borderline diabetic. This is exciting news!
Never underestimate the danger of false hope.
ping
Yummm! I'll have some of each. Actually, I do eat a lot of very spicy foods, so think I'll add even more now. I always thought hot spicy condiments were good for you, both for digestion, respiratory and other ailments. I'm diabetic, so maybe I'm healthier than I think.
Where do we invest $$$$?
It sure is, and a huge expense to the taxpayer via medicare and medicaid. If this pans out it will reshape the finances of the whole healthcare system.
This is going to put a real damper on Pharm stocks who were counting on making big money treating diabetes in the future. I'm sure they'll find a way to buy this guy off and bury this research with the corrupt FDA assisting.
read the canadian tv article here........
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061214/Dosch_diabetes_061214/20061215?hub=TopStories&s_name=
If, and is a big 'if' this proves out, it will be fasgt tracked. There are no drugs we do not know the affects of involved, so the toxicity question is moot. As the father of a child with type 1 diabetes, I and millions of other americans will not stand for big pharma, the stem cell lobby, or any other special interest group slowing down this avenue which could lead to a cure.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.