New Diabetes Treatment On The Horizon

Filed in archive Notable on September 19, 2006

The discoveries never stop. Scientists are hopeful that a protein called calcineurin could be the key to fighting diabetes.

A study on mice showed the protein regulates 10 genes that had already been associated with the condition.

The Nature study raises hope of new treatments for a condition which affects millions worldwide.

Cutting the supply of calcineurin was found to prevent the beta cells from increasing their numbers as the mice grew - more body mass requires more beta cells to keep blood sugar in check.

It also reduced the amount of insulin made by the existing beta cells.

Researcher Dr Jeremy Heit said: "This work has led us and others to think in entirely new ways about diabetes.

"Until now people had identified individual genes or processes that were involved in diabetes.

"The new findings show that these lines of research are connected through a common regulator in calcineurin."