Therapeutics: Apolipoprotein C-III (APOCIII; APOC3)

In vitro and mouse studies suggest depleting APOCIII in islets could help treat diabetes. Levels of APOCIII mRNA were higher in islets from a mouse model of obesity-induced diabetes than in islets from lean controls. In islets from the diabetes model, an antisense oligonucleotide targeting APOCIII decreased apoptosis compared with a scrambled control. In the diabetes model, the antisense oligo increased glucose tolerance. Next steps could include validating the findings in islets from diabetes patients...