Scientists of the North-West University (USA) opened a method for the effective treatment of first-type diabetes using immunomodulation. This is reported in the article published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
In a new approach, nanoruses are used to modify the rapamycin immunospressant. This made it possible to create a new form of immunosuppression, which is directed to certain cells without suppressing wider immune reactions.
Pancreatic islands control the production of insulin when changing blood sugar levels, and in diabetes of the first type, the body’s immune system attacks and destroys cells that produce insulin. With healthy transplanted islands with patients with first-type diabetes may no longer need insulin injection, but its own immune system can participate in the rejection of the islets.
Modern immunosuppressive drugs do not provide adequate protection of transplanted cells and tissues and have undesirable side effects. Instead of modulating T-cells – the most common therapeutic target of rapamycin – nanoparticles serve to target and modify antigen-winning cells. The approach also allows us to deliver rapamycin through subcutaneous injection, which avoids the loss of the medicinal substance.