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Protein May Be New Target For Diabetes Therapy June 19 2000 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A protein found in the body may be a new target for diabetes treatment, according to a report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Dr. Robert Sherwin, incoming president of the American Diabetes Association, explained to Reuters Health that this newly discovered protein might lead to a novel diabetes treatment that would concentrate on "enhancing your own hormone responses" to blood sugar levels instead of targeting the beta-cells that produce insulin in the pancreas. This approach may improve the workings of the body's own intestinal hormones in controlling blood sugar levels without producing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), Sherwin noted. Hypoglycemia is a common problem with traditional oral drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes, where there is a lack of insulin or the body is less sensitive to the hormone. The study, conducted by Nicolai Wagtmann of Norvo Nordisk, Bagsvaerd, Denmark and colleagues, found that mice lacking a protein named CD26 (also known as dipeptidyl peptidase) produce enzymes that enhance insulin secretion. Therefore, the researchers speculate that blocking CD26 may indirectly lead to improved insulin secretion, and thus may be a new way of controlling blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. According to Wagtmann, it has been known for some time that pharmacological inhibition of CD26 can lower blood glucose levels, but this study confirms the essential role of the protein in the control of glucose levels in the blood. Any agent that will inhibit CD26 is heralded as an attractive "drug-candidate," according to Wagtmann, who noted that such a drug could reduce blood sugar without causing hypoglycemia. SOURCE: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 2000;97:6874-6879. Copyright 2000 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.