A recent innovative study discovered that zinc, pH levels and insulin work together to prevent protein clumps and stop them from contributing to the development of type 2 diabetes.
The chronic disease, when the body struggles to convert sugar into fuel, causes high blood sugar and chronic health issues. Approximately 462 million people globally are living with type 2 diabetes.
The research, which leads the way for innovative treatments, was led by Ayyalusamy Ramamoorthy, a professor at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and the Florida State University-headquartered National High Magnetic Field Laboratory.
Researchers examined on the interaction between insulin and amylin, or human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP).
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Amylin, a naturally occurring peptide hormone, helps control glycemia and energy balance, however human amylin can damage insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
Sam McCalpin, a post-doctoral researcher in the Ramamoorthy lab at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, explained: “Amylin is produced in the pancreas alongside insulin and has a tendency to clump into aggregates called amyloid.
“They’re like the plaques that form in the brain with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.”
The research focussed on improving the protective abilities of insulin against the negative effects of IAPP.
Professor Ramamoorthy said: “At the core of our research we want to understand the complex effects of insulin on amylin’s aggregation and its resultant toxicity. These are factors that are critical to understanding type 2 diabetes pathophysiology.”
In people living with type 2 diabetes, amylin often forms clusters of amyloid plaques, damaging hormone producing islet cells. Researchers hope to develop medication which will breakdown or prevent these clusters from forming.
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The study found that insulin was able to hinder the aggregation of amylin. It illustrated the interaction between insulin and amylin, and demonstrated the part that zinc and pH levels played.
“There is evidence that insulin can help, but it is not potent enough to directly affect type 2 diabetes,” said McCalpin. “We want to use insulin as a model to engineer more effective treatments in the future.”
The researchers believe that the study results offer groundbreaking insights into the cellular workings of diabetes along with applicable solutions. Professor Ramamoorthy believes it will contribute and revolutionise the development of treatments.
The research was published in the journal Communications Biology.
