Breakthrough diabetes discovery could lead to type 1 cure, scientists say

Researchers have found nine ‘core’ genes that increase a person’s risk of developing type 1 diabetes, raising hopes of treatments that could prevent, delay or one day cure the disease.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. Those living with the condition – almost 400,000 in the UK – must monitor their blood sugar throughout the day and inject insulin to maintain healthy levels.

All of the genes pinpointed are related to the immune system, including two linked to the body’s first line of defence – which helps identify bacteria or viruses – which had not previously been associated with the disease.

Led by Professor Helen Colhoun and Professor Paul McKeigue, a team of researchers from the University of Edinburgh looked at the genetic data from 4,964 people with type 1 diabetes and 7,497 without, as well as analysing blood samples.

Type 1 diabetes is caused by a mix of genetic and environmental factors, and while individual genes have previously been found to play a small, cumulative role in the development of the disease, the results of the study open many more avenues for treatment – and potentially a cure.

Dr Elizabeth Robertson, director of research at Diabetes UK, which funded the study, said: ‘Type 1 diabetes is a constant balancing act of blood sugar checks and insulin injections. We desperately need to find ways to prevent, delay and treat the condition, to spare hundreds of thousands of people the burden of managing their diabetes, day in, day out.

‘This research has broken new ground in our understanding of genes that underpin type 1 diabetes, and how they contribute to the immune attack that causes the condition. 

‘The discovery that these “core” immune system genes are central to the development of type 1 diabetes opens the door to a raft of new targets for immunotherapies that could prevent, delay or treat type 1 diabetes early on.’

Last year, Teplizumab became the first ever immunotherapy approved for use in the US, with the aim of delaying the onset of type 1 diabetes. 

However, those at risk or affected by the disease require a variety of treatments to target the immune system’s many lines of attack.

Dr Robertson added: ‘With the first ever type 1 diabetes immunotherapy approved for use in the US last year, we are on the brink of a new era for type 1 diabetes therapies that could see it transformed from a lifelong condition to one that can be prevented, treated and ultimately cured.’

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