TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Johnson
& Johnson has begun a research partnership to find the root cause of
Type 1 diabetes and stop the hormonal disorder in
its tracks. It's the
health care giant's first project under its ambitious initiative to
prevent or at least intercept and reduce harm from many diseases.
In a
collaboration with immunologist and Washington University professor Dr.
Emil Unanue and his colleagues, researchers at J&J's Janssen
Pharmaceuticals will explore how specific immune system cells are
involved in the initiation and progression of Type 1 diabetes.
The
disease, also called juvenile diabetes, affects about 5 percent of
Americans with diabetes, roughly 1.25 million people. For reasons that
aren't clear, the immune system attacks and destroys beta cells in the
pancreas that make the hormone insulin, which is needed to convert blood
sugar into energy.
As a result, patients must take insulin every day
for life. When diabetes is poorly controlled, complications including
blindness, amputations and kidney failure can result.
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