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.
Mexicans have a diet much higher in hot peppers than we do and they also have diabetes rates twice as high as most states.
The capsaicin may have to be injected to get the effect.
Damn, FReepers, I just typed out a recent experience this Type 2 had recently and then hit the wrong button and couldn't get it back, so I will try to abbreviate this time because it truly worked for me!
Nine months ago, readings were 10.1 (Hba1c) Protein in urine was 294. Doc said I was headed for dialysis in about five years.
Started taking two 150mg, morning and evening, of a vitamin I read amazing reports on, on the internet. Called Benfotiamine. It's a derivative of Thiamine. Also walked about 16 miles a week and took 1 tablet of cinnamon (500mg, from Walmart) after all three meals.
Three months later: Hba1c down to 8.1. Amazingly, protein reading down to 175!
Next three months busy with new house. No walking. Started eating all the wrong foods, especially sweets.
I did, however, increase my Benfotiamine to three 150mg capsules after morning and evening meal and upped cinnamon to three capsules a day, after each meal
Went back to doc a couple of weeks ago, expecting numbers to be way back up and a severe chewing out.
Doctor amazed again. Hba1c had gone down again--to 6.8!!
Almost normal.
Certainly not a cure, and I know everyone's situation and body responses are different, but thought I would pass it along.
P.S. Numbness if feet is around 50 to 75% gone and hair returning to my legs (big time) after losing it around three years ago, allowing for summer growth.
Numbness IN FEET.
My children's endocrinologist has said that they've recently made the discovery that the beta cells are continually being produced but that they are killed by the autoimmune disease at a faster rate.
If that's right, it is great to hear! I hadn't heard that. Then again, I hadn't heard anything to the contrary.
Wow.
Dang, man...don't put me off my experiment...
Exactly!! This cure was found by natural selection. Oh . . . wait . .
I'm neither diabetic, nor do I have any family members or friends so afflicted, but I want to see this work, and get out to those suffering as soon as possible.
And that is a true pity.
I was not aware of the alternate functions, thanks for that. Still though, would you not rather he be cured?
Yup.
bookmark post #s 60 and 100
luke--I couldn't get 'there' with your link but want to know more about the marshall plan...?
See post 100.
Will look into these two items further...even tho' my family member is a Type 1...maybe one or both would help to control blood sugars?
The requested document does not exist on this server.
I think that is where adult stem cell research will come in. All one would need to do is manipulate a few adult stem cells into islet cells and then seed your pancreas where they would soon replace the lost islet cells. With the Edmonton protocol proving that transplanted islet cells can replace the patients own cells, the next logical step will be to use our own adult stem cells to produce islet cells which can then be transplanted back into the patient. Also, I am not sure in type one if every islet cell dies, if there were even very, very low numbers, they would soon reproduce if this technique works.
The general page is www.marshallprotocol.com.
I'm about 2.5 years into a sarcoid cure. It's the next best thing to a miracle, as my sarcoid was in continual progression, and thus a death sentence, though a long drawn out one. All major symptoms are gone. If it wasn't for the herx associated with taking the medication, I wouldn't know I had a problem anymore, I'd just figure I was feeling my age +5 years.
That's really big news.
I agree with you. I work for a doctor and the sheer number of diabetics as people age is astounding. Talk about a way to cut the cost of insurance, cure some of the diseases that create so much demand for care due to so many other illnesses that are an offshoot of diabetes.
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