CCMB SCGN Diabetes Research: Secretagogin Protein Role in Obesity-Induced-Diabetes
A research study that would make the patients smile!
This is good news for people suffering from obesity-induced-diabetes as a team of scientists from CSIR-CCMB, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research- Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology have identified a reason for the increased insulin action in patients.
This study shows the role of a protein, called secretagogin (SCGN), which is seen to be responsible for the increased insulin action in obesity-induced diabetes. This SCGN protein is seen binding to insulin and protecting it from many stresses and it adds to insulin’s action by increasing its stability. SCGN protein is found to be present in the same place where insulin is secreted, in the pancreases beta cells.
While speaking with the India Science Wire, the lead researcher from CSIR-CCMB, Dr. Yogendra Sharma says, ” SCGN protein helps in insulin secretion. We have seen this protein to be present with insulin, the protein goes along with insulin wherever it is present. We considered it to have some other role too given that it works in secretion. Generally, in diabetes, the SCGN protein level is seen to be decreased by blood levels
.In the CCMB SCGN diabetes research experiments, it was observed that if only SCGN protein was injected in rats, there was no significant role played in diabetes. Whereas, if insulin is injected along with this protein, insulin’s effect increased and this also enhanced the insulin efficacy. If insulin is mixed with this protein, it binds well with insulin, enhancing insulin’s effect. SCGN prevents the precipitation of insulin and it works equally well in two diabetes types, the diabetes type I and types II.
In diabetic patients, the chances of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases are higher as there is a correlation between neurodegenerative diseases and diabetes. In these diseases, the SCGN protein level decreases. SCGN protein doesn’t allow the precipitation of the protein responsible for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, meaning it can save from neurodegeneration too.
Talking about this CCMB SCGN Diabetes Research study’s implications, Dr. Sharma said, ” The chances of immune reactions are low as this protein is our own protein given to us. For both types of diabetes, this protein has a very strong therapeutic potential and thus we have named this therapy as secretagogin therapy. The data showed that if we keep giving this therapy the beta cells start regenerating.”
The Director of CCMB, Dr. Rakesh Mishra, says ” CCMN researchers have discovered a new function of SCGN protein in diabetes biology while studying the calcium-binding properties of this protein, proving to be yet another example of how quality basic science can lead to valuable applications,”
Globally, millions of people are affected by diabetes. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder having a defect in production, action or secretion of insulin, which consequently results in high blood glucose levels. Many kinds of cellular stresses can lead to a loss in the function or structure of insulin, ultimately leading to diabetes.
Author: Prathibha HC
