Journal of diabetes and its complications
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J. Diabetes Complicat. · May 2010
Exendin-4 treatment of nonobese diabetic mice increases beta-cell proliferation and fractional insulin reactive area.
The notion of combining immunomodulatory agents with the incretin exendin-4 (Ex-4) has seen considerable favor as a potential therapy for the reversal of type 1 diabetes in man. While the addition of Ex-4 provides modest improvement to the effectiveness of immunological-based monotherapies in reversing hyperglycemia in the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse, the mechanism of action underlying this effect remains controversial and formed the basis for this investigation. ⋯ Ex-4 monotherapy (0.2 microg daily-10 microg/kg per day) in NOD mice with new onset diabetes increases beta-cell proliferation and fractional insulin area. Ex-4 remains a promising component of combination therapies for type 1 diabetes. Additional studies are needed to identify a dose that maximizes beta-cell proliferation and minimizes potential side effects.