Emerging Anti-Diabetic Drugs for Beta-Cell Protection in Type 1 Diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that damages beta cells in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans and results in hyperglycemia due to the loss of insulin. Exogenous insulin therapy can save lives but does not halt disease progression. Thus, an effective therapy may require beta-cell restoration and suppression of the autoimmune response. However, currently, there are no treatment options available that can halt T1D. Within the National Clinical Trial (NCT) database, a vast majority of over 3000 trials to treat T1D are devoted to insulin therapy. This review focuses on non-insulin pharmacological therapies. Many investigational new drugs fall under the category of immunomodulators, such as the recently FDA-approved CD-3 monoclonal antibody teplizumab. Four intriguing candidate drugs fall outside the category of immunomodulators, which are the focus of this review. Specifically, we discuss several non-immunomodulators that may have more direct action on beta cells, such as verapamil (a voltage-dependent calcium channel blocker), gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA, a major neurotransmitter with effects on beta cells), tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA, an endoplasmic reticulum chaperone), and volagidemab (a glucagon receptor antagonist). These emerging anti-diabetic drugs are expected to provide promising results in both beta-cell restoration and in suppressing cytokine-derived inflammation.

Diabetic Retinopathy and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Gene Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular complication of the retina of the eye and represents a major cause of blindness worldwide. It is a complex disorder characterized by both genetic and environmental factors. The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene is among the main candidate genes for DR, as it is also involved in several other diseases, such as microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus and cancer. The VEGF gene is extremely polymorphic. The 18-bp fragment (insertion/deletion) polymorphism at the -2549 position of the promoter region of the VEGF gene is of great importance. In this review, we highlight the DR and VEGF gene (insertion/deletion) polymorphism. In addition, we assess this association in various DR populations and in other microvascular complications, such as diabetic nephropathy, diabetic peripheral neuropathy and cancer.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and genetic predisposition: A review article.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a heterogeneous condition which is related to an endocrine reproductive disorder of females. It affects females of 18-44 age. The persistent hormonal disbalance leads to the complexities such as numerous cysts, an irregular menstrual cycle that ultimately leads to infertility among females. Many candidate genes have been identified to be one of the causes of PCOS. Different studies have been carried out to find the genetic correlation of PCOS. It is essential to carry out such studies that identify the clear cause of PCOS and its genetic association and hormonal disbalance. This review has highlighted different genes and their correlation with PCOS that leads to hormonal disbalance. Yet not in-depth but an attempt to study the genetic predisposition of PCOS.