The immunomodulator Linomide: role in treatment and prevention of autoimmune diabetes mellitus

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is considered to be an autoimmun e disorder characterized by destruction of the pancreatic beta -cells by au to-reacting lymphocytes. An attractive therapeutic approach to this disease would be to abrogate the autoimmune process at an early stage, thus preser ving a critical mass of pancreatic beta -cells necessary for maintenance of normal glucose tolerance. Linomide (quinoline-3-carboxamide, Roquinimex, L S 2616), is a novel, orally absorbed, immunomodulatory drug that has been s hown to be effective in various models of autoimmunity without causing non- specific immunosuppression. In this review, we describe the efficacy of Lin omide for ameliorating the autoimmune process and diabetes in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) model of IDDM when administered at early stages of the dise ase. We also show that advanced disease in the NOD mouse can be treated eff ectively by combining Linomide with therapeutic modalities designed to incr ease pancreatic beta -cell mass. subsequent clinical studies have shown tha t Linomide preserves beta -cell function in individuals with new-onset IDDM . Based on these data, Linomide or derivatives thereof might be useful for treatment of human IDDM. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved .