Researchers have solved the problem of organ transplant rejection

The drug, which was originally intended to be used for the treatment of diabetes but never launched on the market, has found a new life. As The Daily Mail notes, scientists suggest to use it as a remedy for prevention of organ transplant rejection. According to statistics, every sixth patient dies after a heart transplant within a year. And the survivors have the increased risk of infection, weight gain, cancer and diabetes due to the need of using anti-immunity drugs for the rest of their lives.

Scientists from the University of Queen Mary have found how to accelerate the process, which is important for the connection of an already existing circulatory system with a new organ. So, the diabetic drug increases the activity of enzyme - glucokinase. Usually, in people with type 2 diabetes the level of glucokinase is decreased. In diabetics, the enzyme partly regulates sugar.

Glucokinase is important for the transportation of immune regulatory T cells to organs in patients who undergone a transplantation. In the organ, these cells create the immune system that corresponds to the entire body. This helps the new organ to adapt and become a part of the whole body. The mice trials have shown that the drug significantly increased the migration of T cells to newly transplanted organs.

Source: The Daily Mail