Synthetic Antioxidant May Prevent Type I Diabetes

Synthetic Antioxidant May Prevent Type I Diabetes

DENVER--A synthetic metalloporphyrin-based antioxidant may be able toprevent or delay the onset of type I diabetes, according to an animal studyconducted at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center and published inthe February 2002 issue of Diabetes (51:347-55, 2002) (http://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org).Type I diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which T-cells mistakenly target thebody's insulin producing pancreatic cells as foreign invaders. The body thenproduces reactive oxygen-derived molecules that destroy insulin producing betacells, making it impossible for the body to produce insulin.

Researchers studied the effects of antioxidant therapy on preventing type Idiabetes because islet beta cells have a reduced capacity to scavenge freeradicals. Researchers induced diabetes in mice and found the onset of thedisease was significantly delayed or altogether prevented by the syntheticantioxidant as compared to the control group. In addition, researchers notedthat the synthetic antioxidant protected cells from oxidative stress.

Researchers further investigated the mechanism of action in vitro and foundthat the synthetic antioxidant reduced the immune system's ability to recognizeinsulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. "The findings that our catalyticantioxidants alter recognition of beta cells by the immune system and protectpancreatic islet function in this mouse model of type I diabetes have importantapplications," said James Crapo, M.D., a study coauthor. "The studysuggests that these compounds could be used to prevent or delay the onset oftype I diabetes."

AEOL 10113, the prototype catalytic antioxidant used in this study wasmanufactured by Research Triangle Park, N.C.-based Incara Pharmaceuticals Corp.