Role of heparan sulfate, heparanase inhibitors in the development and prevention of type 1 diabetes

我们最近的研究表明，一种特殊的蛋白质（一种称为乙酰肝素酶的酶）和它降解的特殊碳水化合物（硫酸乙酰肝素或HS）在小鼠I型糖尿病（T1D）的发展中起着以前未被认识到的作用。我们将探讨破坏性免疫细胞是否使用乙酰肝素酶破坏产生胰岛素的胰岛并耗尽它们的HS，导致胰岛细胞死亡和T1D。我们将开发新的药物来抑制这种损伤，预防T1D和保护胰岛移植。

Our recent studies have shown that a special protein (an enzyme called heparanase) and the special carbohydrate (heparan sulfate or HS) that it degrades, play a previously unrecognised role in the development of Type I diabetes (T1D) in mice. We will explore whether destructive immune cells use heparanase to damage insulin-producing islets and deplete them of HS, resulting in islet cell death and T1D. We will develop new agents to inhibit this damage, prevent T1D and protect islet transplants.