Humanin Peptide Protects Pancreatic Beta Cells

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current therapies are ineffective for preventing or treating Type 1 diabetes, which is characterized by the destruction of pancreatic beta cells leading to insulin deficiency, with no established therapeutic or preventative agents available.

Innovation Solution

Administration of humanin or its analogues to improve the survival of pancreatic beta cells, either alone or in combination with insulin, to prevent diabetes onset, treat existing diabetes, and enhance insulin action.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If current therapies are used for Type 1 diabetes, then insulin deficiency is managed, but beta cell destruction continues and no effective prevention or treatment is achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapeutic effectivenessVSAvoidbeta cell destruction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent identifies IGFBP-3 as a harmful pro-apoptotic factor that drives beta cell destruction in Type 1 diabetes. Humanin is then introduced as a protective agent that binds to IGFBP-3, converting this harmful factor into a beneficial interaction that prevents apoptosis and protects beta cells from autoimmune destruction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

Humanin serves as an intermediary substance between the immune system and beta cells. It binds to IGFBP-3 released by T cells and macrophages during the autoimmune response, mediating a protective effect that prevents direct beta cell apoptosis while modulating the harmful immune response.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If IGFBP-3 is released by T cells and macrophages during autoimmune response, then beta cell apoptosis is induced, but this mechanism cannot be targeted by current therapies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapeutic targetingVSAvoidpro-apoptotic protein release

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful pro-apoptotic IGFBP-3 released during autoimmune response into a beneficial target. Humanin binds to IGFBP-3, transforming the harmful factor into a protected complex that prevents beta cell apoptosis while still engaging with the immune system's IGFBP-3 release mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the functional parameter of IGFBP-3 from pro-apoptotic to protective by introducing humanin binding. This parameter change transforms the harmful effect of IGFBP-3 (inducing apoptosis) into a beneficial interaction (preventing apoptosis through humanin-IGFBP-3 complex formation).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8653027B2Method of treatment of type-1 diabetes with humanin analogues

Publication Date: 2014.02.18 RGT UNIV OF CALIFORNIA

AI summary

The present invention is based on the discovery that Humanin and humanin analogues protect pancreatic beta cells in vitro and in vivo from apoptosis. Accordingly, humanin and its analogues are useful for preventing and treating diabetes and promoting beta cell survival in a number of applications.