The development of a cure for diabetes is based on critical scientific discoveries.

Recent studies have revealed the role of bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) in the progression of diabetes. In particular, a subset of BMDCs known as Vcam1-positive short-term hematopoietic stem cells (Vcam1+ ST-HSCs) has been identified as a major contributor to the development of diabetic complications. It is hypothesized that these cells continuously damage pancreatic β-cells, which are essential for insulin production.

Based on this discovery, a treatment combining insulin therapy with the removal of abnormal BMDCs was tested in diabetic mouse models. Researchers found that bone marrow transplantation successfully eliminated abnormal BMDCs, allowing the mice to maintain normal blood sugar levels even after discontinuing insulin therapy. Furthermore, an alternative approach using the HDAC inhibitor givinostat was also found to be effective. Givinostat corrected epigenetic abnormalities in BMDCs, and after treatment discontinuation, both insulin secretion and blood glucose normalization were sustained.

Additionally, this combination therapy was shown to suppress abnormal BMDC migration to the pancreatic islets and thymus, as well as cell fusion events caused by diabetes. However, in diabetic mice that underwent thymectomy (surgical removal of the thymus), the treatment was ineffective. This finding suggests that diabetes is not only a bone marrow disorder but also involves epigenetic dysfunction in the thymus.

These research findings have direct implications for the development of a diabetes cure. The combination therapy of insulin and givinostat has the potential for clinical application as a groundbreaking treatment that aims for complete remission (cure) of diabetes.

For more details, please refer to the Nature Communication Biology research paper.