Methods for identifying compounds for the treatment of type 1 diabetes
The present invention provides methods of identifying candidate compounds for the treatment of type I diabetes and also provides methods for treating patients with type I diabetes and for limiting pancreatic beta cell apoptosis. The present invention also provides methods for diagnosing Type I diabetes or a propensity to develop type I diabetes and methods for identifying diabetic patients to be treated with anti-apoCIII therapy.
1. A method for limiting pancreatic β cell apoptosis comprising
administering to a patient in need thereof an amount effective of an inhibitor of apoCIII to reduce apoCIII-induced increase in intracellular calcium concentration in pancreatic β cells in the patient, wherein the inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of an apoCIII-selective antibody, an antisense oligonucleotide directed against the apoCIII mRNA, and a small interfering RNA directed against the apoCIII mRNA.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the patient has an increased blood serum level of human apoCIII.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient has an increased blood serum level of sialylated human apoCIII.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor is an apoCIII-selective antibody.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the patient has an increased blood serum level of human apoCIII.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the patient has an increased blood serum level of sialylated human apoCIII.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor is an antisense oligonucleotide directed against the apoCIII mRNA.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein the patient has an increased blood serum level of human apoCIII.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the patient has an increased blood serum level of sialylated human apoCIII.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor is a small interfering RNA directed against the apoCIII mRNA.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the patient has an increased blood serum level of human apoCIII.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the patient has an increased blood serum level of sialylated human apoCIII.