General

Stopping killer cells

A promising new treatment could prevent type 1 diabetes

A preventative therapy for type 1 diabetes is in the works. Australian researchers have found a way to subdue the immune system cells that attack insulin-producing cells. The key is to subdue the “B cells” that tell “T cells” to kill the ones that make insulin. When this occurs, the T cells appear to tolerate the insulin-producing cells. This findings is especially important because type 1 diabetes usually develops suddenly in youth, and the disease incidence is rising in some places. The therapy, which is already used to treat Lupus, is in clinical trials.

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