Within the Program of Serbian science cooperation with the diaspora, associates of the Department of Molecular Biology were granted funding for a project: "Ferroptosis in the β-cells death: possible strategy for diabetes treatment" - BetFeSis.

Team leader:

Dr. Vesna Otašević, Department of Molecular Biology IBISS

Team members from IBISS:

Dr. Ana Stančić, Department of Molecular Biology IBISS

Dr. Ilijana Grigorov, Department of Molecular Biology IBISS

Dr. Vesna Martinović, Department of Molecular Biology IBISS

Project partner:

Centre Scientifique de Monaco(CSM), Francuska

Dr. Milica Vučetić

Abstract:

The main pathological sign of diabetes (type 1 and type 2) is a decrease in beta-cell mass. Literature data tell that beta-cell loss correlates with redox state disruption and can be done through several types of regulated cell death including apoptosis, necrosis, autophagy, and potentially ferroptosis. In this project, we aimed to examine whether genetic/pharmacological manipulation of key mediators and effectors of ferroptosis affects beta-cell survival with the aim of paving the way for a new approach to the manipulation of the beta-cell population in diabetic conditions.