Examining Potential Type I Diabetes Mellitus Treatment Options: A Molecular Approach

Abstract

Benjamin Borokhovsky

The last few decades has seen monumental strides in both technologic and scientific advances and discoveries in the field of diabetic research. This review article discusses the background behind Type I Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM), how it is an autoimmune condition with a molecular origin dysfunction before presenting discussion on recently discovered concepts. The article explores the role that stem cells play in diabetic treatment beginning with graft harvesting before discussion of newly discovered stem cells in the spleen and what that means for treatment. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF- α) is believed to play a role in therapeutic options for diabetics, as there is reason to believe that TNF-α is capable of inducing apoptosis in selectively autoreactive CD8+ T-cells and data behind utilizing TNF agonists is illustrated. Ultrasensitive c-peptide assays shed light on the true functional status of islet β cells and conclude that the decline in function occurs over decades and not months as was previously thought. All these concepts and discoveries pave the way for future clinical trials and the discovery of more curative diabetic treatment options.

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