title: How biologics targeting the IL-1 system are being considered for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
abstract: Metabolic diseases are associated with activation of the innate immune system in various tissues and characterized by elevated inflammatory factors and the presence of immune cells. Type 2 diabetes develops when islet beta cells are deficient in producing sufficient insulin to overcome peripheral insulin resistance. Intra-islet IL-1β activity diminishes beta cell function and survival and governs islet inflammation. Targeting the IL-1 system with the IL-1 receptor antagonist IL1Ra improved insulin secretion, glycaemia and reduced systemic inflammation in a proof of concept study with patients with type 2 diabetes. Currently, long lasting and specific IL-1β blocking antibodies are being evaluated in clinical trials and this may lead to a novel cytokine-based treatment for type 2 diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism and Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. marianne.boeni@unibas.ch
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Böni-Schnetzler
authors.forename: Marc Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Donath
mesh_terms: D019138:Antibodies, Blocking / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein / Q000276:immunology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D019138:Antibodies, Blocking; C507763:IL1RN protein, human; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007375:Interleukin-1