Researchers from North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System in Manhasset, NY have identified a gene which expresses as a protein called macrophage migration inhibitory factor, or MIF.��s�H��q�_��-��q�S�ӽåͨt�Φbmanhasset �A�ì�{�o�{�F�@�Ӱ�]�A�o��ܡA�@���@�سJ�ս�A�٬������ӭM�C�����]�l�A��MIF���C MIF is found in unusually high concentration in diabetics.�h���{�ɳ����O�b�o�{���`���@�ת��}���f�w�̡C It apparently has a role in destroying pancreatic beta cells.����M�A���@�ӧ@�ΡA�}�a�ظ��]�ӭM�C

The exciting news is that mice when given a drug to inhibit the expression of this gene and then subsequently treated with streptozotocin(STZ), a chemical used to artifically create diabetes in experimental subjects, failed to exhibit symptoms of diabetes!�O�H���Ī���O�A��p�������Ī��A�H����F�o�ذ�]�M���v����脲���߯��]��脲���߯��^ �A�ƾǫ~�A��i�Χ@�H���s�y�}���f�������ءA�����{�X���g���A�}���f�I

This is significant because STZ is normally used to induce diabetes in healthy subjects and STZ induced diabetics show identical physiological symptoms as any other diabetic. �o�O�N�q���j�A�]�����o�q�`�Ψӻ��Ͽ}���f�����d��ժ̩M��脲���߯����ɪ��}���f�w����ܬۦP���Ͳz�g���������L�}���f�C This is the reason several diabetes experiments are carried out with STZ induced diabetic subjects (read nude mice). �o�O�X�ӭ�]�A�}���f�i��F����P��脲���߯����ɿ}���f��ء]�\Ū�r���^ �C If this experiment is validated against higher primates and finally humans then we may have a drug based therapy to prevent diabetes. �p�G�o�ӹ���O���ҹ���F�����ʪ��M�H���̫᪺�ܡA�ڭ̥i�঳�Ī��v���¦�A�H����}���f�C

The burning question however is the difference between STZ induced diabetes and natural diabetes and how much the results are transferable. �U�N�����D�A��O�������ϧO�O���o�}���f�M�۵M�}���f�M�h�֪����G�O����C It has already been shown that ���w�g���A they are not identical �L�̬O���ۦP�� . �C

Source:��ƨӷ��G LA Times�����F�ɳ�