Beclin 1 is a protein which is encoded by the gene BECN1 in humans. The protein plays a perilous role in the regulation of cell death and autophagy.  It has a role in neurodegeneration and tumorigenesis which are implicated in the autophagic programmed cell death.

 

A new study conducted by the scientists at the University of Otago, New Zealand, have shown that this process of autophagy that leads to cell degeneration occurs in diabetic mice in an uncontrolled manner. They hypothesized that this could be the reason of higher risk of heart diseases in diabetes type1 and type 2 patients.

 

The scientists compared the results of autophagy and role of Beclin -1 in 35 patients with type 2 diabetes and control patients without diabetes. The findings showed that the expression of Beclin-1 was lowered in the non-diabetic patients due to exposure to glucose, which leads to lower levels of autophagy.

 

Rat heart cells which were exposed to glucose showed lowered expression of Beclin-1 and thereby induced lower levels of autophagy and cell death. This findings can be implied further to develop new treatment for patients with diabetes related heart diseases.