Changing how insulin-making pancreas cells use glutamine
Reprogramming glutamine metabolism in pancreatic beta cells
This work looks at whether altering a specific enzyme pathway in insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells can help protect people at risk for type 2 diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11235853 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From the patient perspective, researchers are examining a cell enzyme called GPT2 that shifts how beta cells use glutamine and may cause dysfunction when fuel levels are high. They will study human and mouse islets, turn down GPT2 activity in cells, and measure effects on energy production, insulin release, and stress-related cell death. The team will also look at downstream effects on cellular metabolism and DNA-modifying enzymes that could change beta cell behavior. These experiments aim to connect molecular changes to beta cell survival and function under conditions like obesity and prediabetes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be people with obesity who have prediabetes or early-stage type 2 diabetes who could provide samples or join related clinical follow-ups.
Not a fit: People with long-standing, insulin-dependent type 1 diabetes or advanced beta-cell loss are less likely to gain direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal new ways to keep beta cells healthy and slow or prevent progression to type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical work shows that reducing GPT2 protects mouse beta cells from stress and metabolic reprogramming is known in cancer, but translating this specific approach to human treatment is still novel.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Stoffers, Doris a — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Stoffers, Doris a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.