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Newly Discovered Protein May Prevent Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the world’s fastest growing epidemics, with an estimated 29 million Americans suffering from the type 2 form of the disease. Obesity is a key cause behind this epidemic, given that excess abdominal fat causes fat cells to release a ‘pro-inflammatory’ chemical which can make the body less sensitive to the insulin it produces. This is known as insulin resistance, a major trigger of type 2 diabetes.

In insulin resistance, muscle, fat, and liver cells do not respond properly to insulin and thus cannot easily absorb glucose from the bloodstream. As a result, the body needs higher levels of insulin to help glucose enter cells.

The beta cells in the pancreas try to keep up with this increased demand for insulin by producing more. As long as the beta cells are able to produce enough insulin to overcome the insulin resistance, blood glucose levels staying the healthy range.

Over time, insulin resistance can lead to type 2 diabetes because the beta cells fail to keep up with the body’s increased need for insulin. Without enough insulin, excess glucose builds up in the bloodstream, leading to diabetes and other serious health disorders.

New research from Maynooth University has found a protein that may prevent insulin resistance. The university research team, led by Paul Moynagh, Professor of Immunology, has discovered a protein in the body called “Pellino3” that may block obesity-driven inflammation and thus prevent insulin resistance and diabetes.

The researchers found a direct correlation between Pellino3 levels and abdominal fat tissue in study participants, with Pellino3 found to be extremely low amongst obese individuals and higher amongst lean individuals. The lower levels are associated with the production of a critically important pro-inflammatory protein called IL-1 that drives inflammation and ultimately diabetes.

Explaining the new research, Professor Moynagh said: "After nearly three years of research we have identified a new regulatory mechanism for controlling diet-induced diabetes by highlighting a critical role for 'Pellino3' in regulating inflammation."

"The identification of this new role for Pellino3 is an extremely exciting breakthrough and one that could have important implications for the fight against diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes," Professor Moynagh continued. "My hope is that we can now build on this research and attempt to understand how we may be able to control or manipulate the Pellino3 protein as a method of preventing diabetes disease amongst those at risk."

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