Diabetes gene identification could lead to new therapy

摘要

A gene that appears to play a critical role in the development of type 1 diabetes has been identified by researchers at the North Shore-Long Island Health System in Manhasset,New York.The gene is responsible for making an immune system messenger called macro-phage migration inhibitory factor(MIF),a protein involved in the regulation of the immune system.Last year,the researchers showed that ISO-1,a synthetic compound developed by them,prevented the onset of diabetes by inhibiting MIF(PJ,10 April 2004,p441).