Ingested IFN-alpha preserves residual beta cell function in type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder that presumably results from an autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells. The therapeutic potential of interventions aimed at preventing type 1 diabetes can be assessed in newly diagnosed patients. Because there is a historical experience of a low incidence of spontaneous remission in type 1 diabetes mellitus, interventions preserving beta cell function have been used to identify positive therapeutic outcomes. We treated 10 newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes patients with 30,000 IU ingested interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) within 1 month of diagnosis and examined the difference between baseline and Sustacal-induced (Mead Johnson Nutritionals, Evansville, IN) C-peptide responses, respectively, at 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Eight of the ten patients showed preserved beta cell function, with at least a 30% increase in stimulated C-peptide levels at 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after initiation of treatment. There was no discernible chemical or clinical toxicity associated with ingested IFN-alpha. Our results support the potential of ingested IFN-alpha to preserve residual beta cell function in recent onset type 1 diabetes mellitus and the testing of IFN-alpha in a placebo-controlled trial.
Brod
S A
SA
Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center-Houston, Houston, TX 77225, USA. staley.a.brod@uth.tmc.edu
Atkinson
M
M
Lavis
V R
VR
Brosnan
P G
PG
Hardin
D S
DS
Orlander
P R
PR
Nguyen
M
M
Riley
W J
WJ
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000032:analysis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007700:Kinetics; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001323:Autoantibodies; D002096:C-Peptide; D016207:Cytokines; D007328:Insulin; D016898:Interferon-alpha