sour gas may be key to sweet disease: research sheds light on diabetes pathogenesis and management

(september 11, 2009 - thunder bay on) dr. rui wang, 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 vice-president (research), recently received a new operating grant from the canadian diabetes association (cda), valued at $79,225 for his project entitled "hydrogen sulfide and pancreatic insulin metabolism." this research grant resulted from a national competition and was ranked as an excellent application. it is also the first research grant received by 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 for diabetes research from cda.

the research grant began on july 1, 2009 and will be used to shed light on the understanding of pathogenesis and the management of diabetes under specific conditions. this will be achieved by revealing the critical role of pancreatic islet h2s in controlling insulin production, release, and function. hydrogen sulfide (h2s) is conventionally known as an air pollutant, dubbed as a "sour gas." recent studies have shown that h2s in fact is produced in our cells in a reaction catalyzed by two enzymes, cystathionine beta-synthase (cbs) and cystathionine gamma-lyase (cse).

diabetes is a "sweet" disease that takes place when our body cannot properly handle sugar metabolism due either to the insufficient production of insulin by the pancreas or to the insensitivity of our body to insulin. diabetes affects the lives and wellbeing of millions of people but we still know little about how this metabolic disease develops, let alone its cure. the objective of the research is to test the hypothesis that high levels of pancreatic h2s reduce insulin production via beta cell apoptosis (programmed cell death), suppresses insulin release via inhibition of voltage-dependent calcium channels (a group of membrane proteins that conduct calcium ions), and alters the structure of insulin molecules.

pancreatic islet production of h2s and expression of cse/cbs, the effects of h2s on insulin release, and pancreatic beta cell mass will be determined first. dr. wang will also examine the expression and function of voltage-dependent calcium channels in pancreatic beta cells with different cellular h2s levels. finally, the development of diabetes in the presence or absence of the cse gene will be compared.

"this cda-sponsored research project offers a new approach to the ancient problem of sugar metabolism," says dr. rui wang. "hopefully, our study in the future may provide a 'sour' solution in hydrogen sulfide for the treatment of the 'sweet' disease of diabetes."

-30-

media interviews: dr. rui wang is available for interviews by contacting jasmine durham at 807-343-8177.

about lakehead
lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. with a main campus located in thunder bay, ontario and a campus in orillia, ontario, lakehead has over 7,900 世界杯2022赛程表淘汰赛 and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the northern ontario school of medicine. in 2006, research infosource inc. named 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 canada's research university of the year in the undergraduate category. for more information on 阿根廷vs墨西哥竞猜 , visit //www.hsbcwebinars.com/.