New use of old drugs | antihypertensive drug verapamil may delay the progression of type 1 diabetes

“Old drugs are used for new purposes” is a “happy” situation in drug research and development.

Recently, a new article published in the internationally renowned journals “Nature Medicine” and “Nature Medicine” revealed a new use of a conventional antihypertensive drug- Verapamil, the well-known old drug “verapamil,” approved in 1981, has been proven to be suitable for type 1 diabetes, and has been tested in small-scale clinical trials showed promising results.

Verapamil for type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is an immune system disorder that results from the immune system attacking the beta cells of the pancreatic islets in the pancreas. The latter is a key cell that secretes insulin and regulates blood sugar balance. Once beta cells are destroyed, patients are prone to lack of adequate hormones to control blood sugar levels.

Currently, there is no effective oral drug therapy for type 1 diabetes. Researchers from the University of Alabama at Birmingham found that even short-term use of verapamil was beneficial for people with type 1 diabetes.

They further determined the serum proteomic analysis of the patients and found that verapamil can increase the expression of chromogranin A (CHGA), one of the autoantigens of type 1 diabetes. Levels returned to normal and reversed the elevation of pro-inflammatory T helper cell markers in the serum of patients with type 1 diabetes.

RNA-sequencing further confirmed that verapamil can modulate the thioredoxin system and promote the expression profiles of antioxidant, anti-apoptotic and immunoregulatory genes in human islets. improve.

In addition, oral verapamil treatment for 2 years delayed the progression of type 1 diabetes, promoted beta-cell function, and reduced insulin requirements, benefits that persisted after cessation of treatment. disappeared after the drug.

Therefore, this study provides an important basis for the therapeutic effect and underlying mechanism of verapamil in type 1 diabetes.

Verapamil is a versatile cure for many diseases

Verapamil, a derivative of papaverine, was used as a coronary vasodilator in 1962. Verapamil, also known as verapamil, verapamil, is a calcium channel blocker.

In recent years, in addition to the treatment of hypertension, angina pectoris, arrhythmia and other cardiovascular diseases, it can also treat cerebrovascular disease, finger vasospasm, abdominal pain, esophageal arrhythmia Bradysia, Migraine, Pulmonary Hypertension, and Prevention of Preterm Birth.

Verapamil for type 1 diabetes-induced glaucoma may have a miraculous effect of “killing two birds with one stone”.

The use of this drug in type 1 diabetes with acute renal failure can also be beneficial effect.

The use of verapamil for diabetic patients with type 1 diabetes and hypertension can rejuvenate the old medicine, not only can control blood pressure and delay the progression of type 1 diabetes, Promotes beta cell function and reduces insulin requirements.

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Author: Li Changqi, Chief Physician, Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Hepingli Hospital