One of the most common complications of diabetes is diabetic nephropathy, a disease that affects the ability of the kidneys to eliminate waste products and additional liquids from the body.A new study has achieved in mice eliminate a protein from kidney cells involved in blood filtration.Thus, blood sugar could be reduced to less harmful levels.
If a drug that inhibits a protein is mainly developed in these cells present in the kidney, renal disease could be fought more effective.
A work led by the University of California-Davis (USA) in which a research group of the Department of Cellular Biology, Physiology and Immunology of the University of Córdoba has participated has mitigate this lesion in mice eliminating the PHOSPATASA 1B Tyrosine protein 1bof a renal cell type.This cell, called Podocito, is involved in the formation of the barrier that filters the substances found in the blood, so it is constituted as a fundamental piece in the kidney filtration system.
As some recent studies point out, the 1B phosphatase tyrosine protein "blocks" cellular systems that react to insulin and, therefore, intervene in glucose entry into the cells so, if it is possible to inhibit, blood sugar couldlower less harmful levels.
Although there is still much to do, research could help the development of more selective drugs
This new investigation has managed to do so taking a step further.While previous studies had used mice to which this protein had been inhibited or eliminated throughout the body, rodents have now been used to which they have only been eliminated in podocytes (cells with “feet” located in the kidneythat intervene in the filtration of the blood).
hopeful results
The new results, published in Metabolism, are promising.Once the mice were subjected to this process, they showed greater tolerance to glucose and better insulin sensitivity, so some of the consequences of diabetes were reduced.
One of the main conclusions of the study, according to one of its authors, the professor of cell biology José Manuel Villalba, is that the protein they have managed to eliminate “is crucial to regulate the metabolism of glucose and in certain circumstances, such as aHyperglycemia situation, its exclusive inhibition in podocytes can be interesting, which produces a complete organism benefit ”.
Therefore, although "there is still much to do," Villalba himself acknowledges, research could help the development of more selective drugs.The aforementioned protein is present throughout the organism and fulfills important functions, so if it is inhibited globally, its effect could be negative.However, if it is possible to develop a drug that inhibits it mainly in these cells present in the kidney, renal disease could be fought more effectively, one of the most serious consequences of diabetes.
BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCE:
Ito, and;HSU, MF;Bettaieb, a;Koike, S;Mello, a;Calvo-Rubio, M;Villalba, JM;HAJ, FG."Protein Tyrosine phhosphase 1b deficiety in podocytes mitigates Hyperglycemia-Renal Induced Injury" Metabolism 76: 56-69 November 2017
