Asian Scientist (Oct. 31, 2013) – A new University of Sydney study has found that having type I diabetes alters the normal communication between the human central nervous system and bone marrow, causing inflammatory effects and further disease.
The study, published in the American Journal of Pathology, demonstrated a previously unrecognized link between bone marrow and the central nervous system in both people and rodents with type I diabetes, which in turn affects their immune systems.
The researchers showed that Type 1 diabetes modulates the nerve supply and immune function of the bone marrow. This altered communication leads to an increase in the level of monocytes (white cells) being produced by the bone marrow in both human and rodents with Type 1 diabetes.
The investigators found that, in animal studies, these cells infiltrate the brain and cause an increase in inflammatory signals in its sympathetic centers.
By using minocycline, a widely available antibiotic with anti-inflammatory effects that can cross the blood-brain barrier, the researchers then showed that they can reduce the inflammatory response in the brain seen in type I diabetes.
By targeting this previously unrecognized pathway, the authors suggest that minocycline can reduce the microvascular complications seen in Type 1 diabetes and support the need to target central inflammation in the management of type I diabetes.
“Minocycline is an antibiotic which has anti-inflammatory effects that can cross the blood-brain barrier,” said Professor Tailoi Chan-Ling, a senior author of the study.
“Our study found the use of this antibiotic could reduce the inflammatory response in the brain seen in type I diabetes in animals, and there are some preliminary patient studies that show minocycline also reduces some diabetic complications in humans.”
However, she cautions that further studies are needed to examine the potential of this additional therapeutic pathway in diabetes.
The article can be found at: Hu et al. (2013) CNS Inflammation and Bone Marrow Neuropathy in Type 1 Diabetes.
——
Source: University of Sydney; Photo: Jill A. Brown/Flickr/CC.
Disclaimer: This article does not necessarily reflect the views of AsianScientist or its staff.
