tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Good news regarding the treatment of diabetes. All Italian research published in the Journal of Virology has opened new scenarios on the prevention and cure of disease. In fact this study was coordinated by Ilaria Capua virologa, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, and led the collaboration with Lorenzo Piemonti, Centre for Diabetes Research Institute San Raffaele in Milan.
'Our starting point was the observation that in animals the influenza viruses grow in the pancreas. We wondered then if the same thing happens in humans, 'says Capua. The first step to finding the answer has been to grow influenza viruses on human pancreas tissues from donors belonging to the center of the San Raffaele.
this way it was possible to observe that the viruses grow throughout the tissue, including the portion that secretes insulin. Other positive responses came from cell cultures, to the point that the researchers decided to try with an animal model as the Turkey, the animal more sensitive to flu viruses. ?Turkeys-suggests the virologa ? were infected with non-lethal flu viruses, similar to those in humans.
All animals have developed pancreatitis and some even diabetes. The next step will be to see what happens in human tissues, thanks to a project funded by the Ministry of health and who should start within the year. The project will be conducted on cultures of cells that secrete insulin, both based on other animal models and human pancreas tissues.
?the hypothesis ? notes ? is that, in individuals predisposed, the influence may be a causative factor of diabetes. ' Opens a new scenario, 'notes the Capua. Each conclusion is premature, however: 'our data are the first bricks to begin working in this direction.' If the hypothesis is confirmed, the impact could be enormous: considering social and economic costs of diabetes, can prevent even the 5% of cases of type 1 diabetes would be a victory for public health.
http://www.articolotre.com/2012/10/scoperto-un-possibile-legame-tra-influenza-e-diabete/115659
'Our starting point was the observation that in animals the influenza viruses grow in the pancreas. We wondered then if the same thing happens in humans, 'says Capua. The first step to finding the answer has been to grow influenza viruses on human pancreas tissues from donors belonging to the center of the San Raffaele.
this way it was possible to observe that the viruses grow throughout the tissue, including the portion that secretes insulin. Other positive responses came from cell cultures, to the point that the researchers decided to try with an animal model as the Turkey, the animal more sensitive to flu viruses. ?Turkeys-suggests the virologa ? were infected with non-lethal flu viruses, similar to those in humans.
All animals have developed pancreatitis and some even diabetes. The next step will be to see what happens in human tissues, thanks to a project funded by the Ministry of health and who should start within the year. The project will be conducted on cultures of cells that secrete insulin, both based on other animal models and human pancreas tissues.
?the hypothesis ? notes ? is that, in individuals predisposed, the influence may be a causative factor of diabetes. ' Opens a new scenario, 'notes the Capua. Each conclusion is premature, however: 'our data are the first bricks to begin working in this direction.' If the hypothesis is confirmed, the impact could be enormous: considering social and economic costs of diabetes, can prevent even the 5% of cases of type 1 diabetes would be a victory for public health.
http://www.articolotre.com/2012/10/scoperto-un-possibile-legame-tra-influenza-e-diabete/115659