Thanks to specific proteins introduced into plant cells, American researchers could pave the way for an inexpensive oral therapy capable of healing bones more quickly in people with diabetes who suffer from fractures.
- Diabetics are more prone to fractures
- A drug made from lettuce leaves has been shown to be effective in regenerating bones
About 425 million people are believed to have diabetes worldwide. The disease can lead to many complications such as diabetic foot, blindness, strokes, erection problems, kidney failure. Diabetics are also at greater risk of breaking a bone, and when this happens, they take longer to heal. At the present time, the persons concerned have to go regularly to the hospital where they are given insulin injections. Unfortunately, insulin is expensive to produce, requires cold storage and transport, and sterile injections, which can only be done by needle. However, thanks to specific proteins introduced into plant cells, researchers could open the way to an oral therapy that can heal bones more quickly in people with diabetes, and at a lower cost. The results of their study were published in the journal Biomaterials.
“Over the past 50 years, injections of human insulin, made from yeast or bacteria, have saved millions of lives, but these products are not affordable for more than 90% of the world’s diabetic population.explains doctor Henry Daniell, corresponding author of the study, to the site Medical News Todaynoting that the price of insulin has doubled in the United States over the past five years.
He and his team therefore wanted to find an affordable and practical solution that patients could do from home to stimulate the growth of bone-building cells and bone regeneration.
A drug that can be stored for three years
For their study, researchers from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia (USA) introduced human insulin-like growth factor, IGF-1, a protein that plays an essential role in the development and regeneration of muscles and bones. They succeeded in expressing IGF-1 and CTB, a protein helping to transport the fused ones into the bloodstream from the digestive system, in lettuce leaves, removing the antibiotic resistance gene in the process.
After the lettuce sprouted, the researchers freeze-dried the plants and ground the leaves into a powder. They were then able to create a drug that could be stored for three years: the protein remains stable for years, without it being necessary to store the freeze-dried leaves in the cold or to transport them. The scientists chose lettuce leaves because they are very thin, easy to dry and harmless, Daniell explains to Medical News Today.
“Many diabetics could benefit from this therapy”
By giving the drug to mice once a day, the scientists saw an increase in IGF-1 in the animals. The diabetic mice that consumed the treatment then showed signs of accelerated bone healing.
“It’s amazing to see the influence of a protein on the healing of fractureswelcomes Henry Daniell. Delivering this novel human IGF-1 through the consumption of lettuce is effective, easy to administer, and an attractive option for patients. Study provides an ideal new treatment option for diabetic fractures and other musculoskeletal diseases. We hope to find partners to take this work forward as there are many people with diabetes who could benefit from therapy like this”he continues.
Going forward, researchers plan to continue developing IGF-1 in plants for clinical use, not only for healing bone fractures, but also for conditions such as osteoporosis and bone regeneration after cancer.
Two different types of diabetes
There are two types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes, called lean diabetes, and type 2 diabetes, called fat diabetes. The first affects approximately 10% of patients and is caused by an autoimmune reaction which partially or completely destroys the beta cells of the pancreas, which are responsible for synthesizing insulin. Thus, the pancreas no longer secretes enough insulin, a hormone that is essential for the body to use blood glucose as an energy source. Type 1 diabetes often appears suddenly in children or young adults without anyone really knowing why (the genetic factor is possible). The disease is manifested by excessive urination, intense thirst and abnormally increased appetite despite the thinness of the patients. They must regularly check their blood sugar and inject insulin several times a day.
Type 2 diabetes is characterized by poor functioning of the beta cells that are supposed to manufacture insulin. The latter can therefore not regulate sugar properly in the body, which leads to an increase in blood sugar. The disease can have a genetic origin or occur, most often after the age of 40, in overweight or obese people, who lack physical activity and/or suffer from an unbalanced diet. In 80% of cases, the disease could be prevented, according to the site Diabetes.fr. Initially, the progressive disease is treated by hygieno-detetic measures. Then, the doctor prescribes antidiabetic treatments. If the insulin deficiency remains too great, insulin injections will then be offered. However, for these treatments to work, the patient must combine them with a balanced diet and regular physical activity.
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