MOTS-c proteins protect pancreatic cells in diabetes 1

A new study has shown that treating mice with type 1 diabetes with small proteins called MOTS-c prevented the immune system from destroying insulin-producing pancreatic cells, effectively preventing the onset of autoimmune disease. (1)

mice that had been genetically engineered to develop autoimmune diabetes, ‘killer’ T cells (darker spots) infiltrate and destroy insulin-producing cells in the pancreas (left). Treatment with MOTS-c injections reduced T cell infiltration and prevented the onset of the disease (right). Credit: University of Southern California

The professor of gerontology Changhan David Lee, co-author of the study, explained that these small proteins activate a “mimetic exercise “ they appear to play an important role in regulating the immune system.