Objective
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin producing beta cells of the pancreas. As of 2022, there are. 8.7 million people living with T1D globally, which requires lifelong insulin therapy. While insulin therapy is a life-saving treatment, the multiple daily insulin injections needed to control blood sugar levels are a significant burden on the quality of life for people with lived experience of T1D. A potential treatment for T1D is to slow down or reverse the loss of insulin producing beta cells caused by autoimmunity.
Background Rationale
We have recently discovered an important role for a protein called RREB1 in how beta cells are made. Here we test whether RREB1 may also be important in how beta cells die during autoimmunity. We think that RREB1 may interpret and act on signals from immune cells, which ultimately leads to beta cell death. Using cells and mice, we will target the amount of RREB1 protein found in insulin cells and test whether that protects them from autoimmunity.
Description of Project
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin producing beta cells of the pancreas. As of 2022, there are. 8.7 million people living with T1D globally, which requires lifelong insulin therapy. While insulin therapy is a life-saving treatment, the multiple daily insulin injections needed to control blood sugar levels are a significant burden on the quality of life for people with lived experience of T1D. A potential treatment for T1D is to slow down or reverse the loss of insulin producing beta cells caused by autoimmunity. We have recently discovered an important role for a protein called RREB1 in how beta cells are made. Here we test whether RREB1 may also be important in how beta cells die during autoimmunity. We think that RREB1 may interpret and act on signals from immune cells, which ultimately leads to beta cell death. Using cells and mice, we will target the amount of RREB1 protein found in insulin cells and test whether that protects them from autoimmunity. Our data will improve our understanding of how autoimmunity leads to beta cell death and may inform future efforts aimed at protecting beta cells in T1D.
Anticipated Outcome
We anticipate the decreasing the amount of RREB1 protein in insulin cells will improve survival and function of pancreatic beta cells.
Relevance to T1D
Our data will improve our understanding of how autoimmunity leads to beta cell death and may inform future efforts aimed at protecting beta cells in T1D.