Abstract

Diabetes is a disease diagnosed by the inability to regulate blood glucose concentration. A primary cause of diabetes is loss of insulin-producing pancreatic cells, or beta cells, which permanently affects insulin production capacity. For this reason, small molecules that can induce healthy, endogenous beta cell proliferation and regeneration have become the subject of vigorous research as of late. Studies in this thesis indicate that dual specificity tyrosine-phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) inhibitors such as harmine and harmine-derived analogs, or “harmalogs,” promote beta cell replication in mouse and human islets in vivo. Furthermore, co-treatment with harmine and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) inhibitors further induce robust beta cell proliferation in vivo. These results suggest a potential future therapy for promoting beta cell regeneration and the recovery of glycemic control in diabetic patients.

Details

Title
Harmine-Based Therapies to Promote Beta Cell Regeneration
Author
Zlatanic, Viktor
Publication year
2019
Publisher
ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
ISBN
9781085590778
Source type
Dissertation or Thesis
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2275186090
Copyright
Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works.