A recent study discovered that Interleukin-35 (IL-35), an immune-regulatory protein, offers significant potential for treating type 1 diabetes and autoimmune diabetes mellitus. By reducing the activity of certain immune cells that produce inflammatory chemicals, IL-35 minimizes pancreatic cell infiltration, a primary factor in these diseases.
Scientists at the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology (IASST) in Guwahati, India, led by Dr. Asis Bala, Prof. Ashis K. Mukherjee and Mr. Ratul Chakraborty analysed IL-35’s unique ability to regulate macrophage activation, T-cell proteins and regulatory B cells. This protein is encoded by the IL12A and EBI3 genes and is composed of IL-12α and IL-27β chains.
Through a network pharmacological analysis, the IASST team identified five genes associated with immune-inflammatory, autoimmune, neoplastic and endocrine disorders, reinforcing IL-35’s therapeutic potential.
Their findings, published in Cytokine and World Journal of Diabetes, mark a significant step toward developing IL-35-based therapies, especially critical given the growing global diabetes burden affecting children and adolescents in developing nations.
While IL-35 represents a novel approach to immune protection in diabetes, further research is required to unravel its mechanisms and advance IL-35-based therapies to clinical trials.
Publication(s):
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cyto.2024.156692
https://www.wjgnet.com/1948-9358/full/v15/i10/2147.htm
