Swansea University researchers discovered that Canagliflozin, a drug commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, could be used to treat autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus because it targets T-cells, which are an essential component of the immune system.

Canagliflozin is a medicine that regulates blood sugar levels in persons with type 2 diabetes; nevertheless, researchers have discovered that the substance has an unanticipated purpose involving the human immune system.

Targeting T-cell metabolism in autoimmunity has been shown to have therapeutic advantages in previous studies. T-cells are a kind of white blood cell that helps the body fight infections and disorders, but they have been shown to assault healthy tissues in autoimmune diseases.

According to the study, Canagliflozin dampens T-cell activation, financed by the Medical Research Council and published in the journal Cell Metabolism. This suggests that the drug might be repurposed as a therapy for T-cell-driven autoimmune. 

The studys findings are crucial because they provide the groundwork for the clinical development of Canagliflozin to treat certain autoimmune disorders. Because the medicine is currently extensively used and has a well-established safety profile in humans, it may reach the clinic faster than any new drugs. 

The researchers hope that Canagliflozin will be tested in a clinical study to treat specific autoimmune diseases in future.

(Source:https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/health/autoimmune-disorders-can-be-treated-by-type-2-diabetes-medicine-study-101685078475800.html)