New York, June 24: A compound commonly used to treat osteoporosis in humans could be useful for treating diabetes, according to the first trials carried out in rodents.
American researchers discovered that the medication Denosumab - indicated to treat osteoporosis in humans - also stimulates the production of cells that control the balance of insulin, at least during the first tests carried out in diabetic mice.
The article - published in the magazine Cell Metabolism - emphasizes that there are already other compounds that have the same effect, but the drug in question is already approved by what could advance more quickly to clinical trials such as a diabetes treatment ....
"Our study identifies a molecular brake that inhibits the replication of beta cells of both the mouse and human," says the main author, Rupangi Vasavada, of the Institute of Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism of the ICAHN School of Medicine at the Monte Sinai Hospital inNew York, United States.
"This shows that two proteins, including a medication for osteoporosis, can cancel and act this brake on induction of the proliferation of human beta cells and mice," added the researcher.
The work team made the finding while exploring the effects of lactogenic hormones, which are produced by the pituitary gland, stimulate breastfeeding in women and are known to improve the survival and growth of beta cells of the pancreas.
The researchers found that the protein called osteoprotegerine (OPG) could be directly involved in beta cell growth.Now, the next step of the team will be to study the way in which Denosumab and OPG modulate the growth and function of beta cells.