Wdr13 gene found to correct type 2 diabetes

A team of scientists have found a way of preventing beta cells being destroyed in models of type 2 diabetes.
Led by Satish Kumar, Chief Scientist and Group Leader at Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, the team managed to genetically delete the Wdr13 gene in a mouse.
After it was deleted, the mouse, who was severely afflicted with type 2 diabetes, demonstrated that the pathology of type 2 diabetes could be corrected.
Wrd13 studies
In a previous study, a mutant mouse strain lacking the Wdr13 gene was created by the team, which showed these mice had increased islet mass. This was due to amplified beta cells which subsequently led to enhanced insulin production.
In their recent study, which was published in the journal Diabetologia, they deleted the Wdr13 gene and found beta cells destruction would be halted in a severe model of diabetes.
Dr. Kumar found that the deletion of the Wdr13 gene led to increased insulin production, better glucose disposal and reduced inflammation and triglycerides, problems all associated with diabetes.
The team are now planning to use RNAi, a molecule that inhibits gene expression to directly reduce the expression of the Wdr13 gene in the pancreas.