Molecule that makes obese people develop diabetes discovered

Sanjay Tanday, healthcarerepublic.com,
26 November 2009, 00:20am

European researchers have discovered a molecule that they believe could play a role in causing diabetes in obese people.

Chemokine molecule CXCL5 could play a role in developing diabetes

They found that obese people have large amounts of the chemokine molecule CXCL5, produced by certain cells in fatty tissue.

They then discovered that an experimental treatment aimed at inhibiting the action of CXCL5 could help to protect obese mice from developing type-2 diabetes.

Lead researcher Lluis Fajas, from the Institute of Health and Medical Research in France, said: ‘If these studies can be confirmed in humans, this treatment would represent a fundamental improvement in the quality of life of obese individuals.'