Type 1 diabetes develops when an overactive immune system knocks out insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas and sends blood sugars soaring. Early results suggest that infusions of the drug teplizumab avert the misguided attacks and can help prevent type 1 or throw it into remission. But no one knew how the therapy might work—until now.

The Yale report, which appears in Science Translational Medicine and was partially funded by the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, reveals that teplizumab (also called anti-CD3) activates the immune system’s T cells and triggers a specific chain of events to protect insulin production.

“In the new study, we address the way this investigational drug works on human cells in a mouse model,” said co-author Richard A. Flavell, professor of immunobiology and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator. “The results are exciting and predictive of how this compound would work in people.”

Click here for more about teplizumab research from Diabetes TrialNet, an international network of researchers that conducts studies for people with type 1 diabetes and their at-risk relatives.

Type 1 Diabetes: Closer to a Cure? The Saturday Evening Post

Any advice or input about living with this incurable skin disease would be appreciated. I need help.

Mabel,
Nebraska

Pemphigus, an autoimmune disease that causes blistering of the skin, tends to affect middle-aged and older adults and is more frequent in those of Middle Eastern or Jewish heritage. We sent your letter to Dr. Robert A. Swerlick, chairman of the Emory University School of Medicine Department of Dermatology in Atlanta, Georgia, who replied:

“In some cases, topical medications may be sufficient to treat this disease. In many cases, however, prompt and sufficient doses of corticosteroids, usually prednisone or prednisolone, are required to bring pemphigus under control. Some patients then go into remission; many need a small maintenance dose to keep the disease under control. 

In addition, doctors may commonly prescribe other immunosuppressant drugs in order to limit systemic steroid doses. Finally, newer biologic drugs, including IVIg and rituximab (brand name: Rituxan) have been helpful for some patients. To date, no studies have shown that alternative, homeopathic, or any other nontraditional method has been successful in treating the disease. Patients may also consider treatments to help reduce drug side effects, once the disease is under control. Patients on drug therapy for pemphigus must be monitored on a regular basis, and those taking systemic steroids should have periodic bone density tests. For more information and support, visit pemphigus.org.”

Blistering Skin Disease The Saturday Evening Post