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Inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis preserves β cell function in type 1 diabetes

  • Emily K. Sims
  • , Abhishek Kulkarni
  • , Audrey Hull
  • , Stephanie E. Woerner
  • , Susanne Cabrera
  • , Lucy D. Mastrandrea
  • , Batoul Hammoud
  • , Soumyadeep Sarkar
  • , Ernesto S. Nakayasu
  • , Teresa L. Mastracci
  • , Susan M. Perkins
  • , Fangqian Ouyang
  • , Bobbie Jo Webb-Robertson
  • , Jacob R. Enriquez
  • , Sarah A. Tersey
  • , Carmella Evans-Molina
  • , S. Alice Long
  • , Lori Blanchfield
  • , Eugene W. Gerner
  • , Raghavendra G. Mirmira
  • Linda A. DiMeglio
  • Indiana University Bloomington
  • The University of Chicago
  • Nationwide Children’s Hospital
  • Medical College of Wisconsin
  • Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
  • Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis
  • VA Medical Center
  • Virginia Mason Medical Center
  • Cancer Prevention Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

In preclinical models, α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) inhibitor, delays the onset of type 1 diabetes (T1D) by reducing β cell stress. However, the mechanism of DFMO action and its human tolerability remain unclear. In this study, we show that mice with β cell ODC deletion are protected against toxin-induced diabetes, suggesting a cell-autonomous role of ODC during β cell stress. In a randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02384889) involving 41 recent-onset T1D subjects (3:1 drug:placebo) over a 3-month treatment period with a 3-month follow-up, DFMO (125–1,000 mg/m2) is shown to meet its primary outcome of safety and tolerability. DFMO dose-dependently reduces urinary putrescine levels and, at higher doses, preserves C-peptide area under the curve without apparent immunomodulation. Transcriptomics and proteomics of DFMO-treated human islets exposed to cytokine stress reveal alterations in mRNA translation, nascent protein transport, and protein secretion. These findings suggest that DFMO may preserve β cell function in T1D through islet cell-autonomous effects.

Original languageEnglish
Article number101261
JournalCell Reports Medicine
Volume4
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 21 2023

Keywords

  • disease modification
  • islet
  • ornithine decarboxylase
  • polyamines
  • prevention
  • trial
  • type 1 diabetes
  • α-difluoromethylornithine
  • β cell
  • β cell stress

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