Until now, there has been no known way to prevent Type I Diabetes in individuals considered to be at high risk. However, according to the research findings of a team of London Ontario scientists, this may no longer be true. The research, which was released today in the prestigious Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal, shows that it is possible to prevent diabetes prone mice from developing the disease by adding certain proteins made by insulin producing cells of the pancreas to their diet. The proteins, glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), which is thought to be a trigger factor for diabetes, along with interleukin-4 (IL-4) can re-program harmful immune responses by promoting a mechanism known as oral immune tolerance.
According to Dr. Anthony Jevnikar, Program Director, Transplantation, Immunity & Regenerative Medicine, Lawson Health Research Institute, and Professor of Medicine, Immunology & Microbiology, The University of Western Ontario, “Type I Diabetes is caused by overactivity of the immune system which leads to damage of insulin producing cells within the pancreas. It may be possible to reset the immune system to prevent injury by oral exposure to the proteins which initially triggered the disease.” As compared to biotherapeutics administered to patients by injection, large quantities would be needed. Drs. Shengwu Ma, Scientist at the Lawson Health Research Institute, and Adjunct Professor, Departments of Biology and Medicine, The University of Western Ontario, and Jevnikar realized that current technology for production of these complex proteins could not supply enough for clinical testing. In searching for a practical way to produce the proteins they turned to plants. The researchers have been able to produce clinically useful amounts of these proteins in a novel way using genetically altered non-nicotine tobacco. By simply feeding the mice the transgenic plant leaf tissue, they were able to prevent diabetes in mice that normally develop Type I Diabetes like humans. “Our research demonstrates that IL-4, along with human GAD produced in these plants can be used to regulate immune responses without the need for elaborate purification. This is a significant achievement,” concluded Dr. Ma.
Diabetes is one of the most important health challenges in Canada. Today, over 2 million Canadians have diabetes and it is predicted that in ten years as many as one in five Canadians will be diabetic. Diabetes is considered a leading cause of death by disease in this country and a major burden on our already strained healthcare system. If not properly treated, diabetes can lead to heart and kidney disease, blindness, nerve damage and circulation problems.
So far, the team of researchers, which includes a collaboration with scientists from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, has currently confined their area of research to diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease. However, there could be many other applications that are yet to be looked at. “I think it is unlimited what we can do for human diseases with this technology,” remarks Dr. Jevnikar. Since scientists are now working with the human versions of the protein, the next step would be planning for the requirements of clinical trial, which would require more funding.
Plantigen Inc. is taking the lead in capturing the commercial potential of this research. Plantigen Inc. in conjunction with Dow AgroSciences LLC, are pursuing proof-of-concept of this exciting technology and its applications for the prevention of immune disorders in companion animals.
ABOUT PLANTIGEN
Plantigen Inc. is a discovery company focused on the identification and development of plant-derived biopharmaceuticals for the prevention and treatment of human disease. The company is a spin-off of the Lawson Health Research Institute, the research arm of the founding hospital in London, Ontario, Canada. Plantigen is developing products using genetically enhanced plants - ORAmmune™ and PHYTOkines™ to combat immune system disorders. These products are in their pre-clinical stage of development.
Please visit www.plantigen.com
For more information, please contact:
Jayne Graham
Manager, Communications & Public Relations
Lawson Health Research Institute
(519) 646-6100 ext. 64680
Mary Gardner
Manager, Business Development
Plantigen Inc.
(519) 685-8500 ext. 77738
The Lawson Health Research Institute in London, Ontario, Canada is the research arm of London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Health Care London
