Two groups of researchers have reversed diabetes in mice by injecting them with Alpha-1 protein, or AAT.
AAT is the protein extracted from human blood plasma that we Alphas get infused into our veins to augment our own inadequate supply. It's intended to give us protection against the rapid loss of lung function that is common among Alphas.
AAT has several fine qualities, including being anti-inflammatory. (Since we're "deficient" in AAT, Alphas tend to have a lot of lung inflammation.)
So here's where diabetes comes in.
For years, it's been widely accepted that inflammation is one of the effects of Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is the kind that can develop in the very young and brings the complete destruction of the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, making insulin injections a lifetime necessity.
Now researchers are testing the theory that inflammation is a major cause, rather than a result, of diabetes. They injected diabetic mice with AAT. Inflammation was reduced, the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas weren't just saved, but apparently grew, and in some cases the mouse diabetes was completely cured.
Of course, they were mice. And a special breed of non-obese diabetic mice. But everybody's having visions of a breakthrough in human diabetes.
So far, no AAT studies in people with Type 1 diabetes have been announced.