Ingested IFN-α preserves residual β cell function in type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder that presumably results from an autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing pancreatic β cells. The therapeutic potential of interventions aimed at preventing type 1 diabetes can be assessed in newly diagnosed patients. Because there is a historical experience of a low incidence of spontaneous remission in type 1 diabetes mellitus, interventions preserving β cell function have been used to identify positive therapeutic outcomes. We treated 10 newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes patients with 30, 000 IU ingested interferon-α (IFN-α) within 1 month of diagnosis and examined the difference between baseline and Sustacal®-induced (Mead Johnson Nutritionals, Evansville, IN) C-peptide responses, respectively, at 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Eight of the ten patients showed preserved β cell function, with at least a 30% increase in stimulated C-peptide levels at 0, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after initiation of treatment. There was no discernible chemical or clinical toxicity associated with ingested IFN-α. Our results support the potential of ingested IFN-α to preserve residual β cell function in recent onset type 1 diabetes mellitus and the testing of IFN-α in a placebo-controlled trial.