Verapamil in Diabetes

Figure 1: Models of thioredoxin‐interacting protein action: (a) Role of thioredoxin‐interacting protein in the thioredoxin system. Thioredoxin‐interacting protein binds and inhibits the reduced form of thioredoxin, thereby functioning as a rheostat that modulates both redox status and reactive oxygen species‐mediated signaling to regulate metabolism and other cellular processes. (b) Proposed role of thioredoxin‐interacting protein in type 2 diabetes. Chronic glucose load on the pancreas, triggering thioredoxin‐interacting protein‐mediated β cell failure and overt diabetes. Adapted with permission from[1] b a Sir, Loss of pancreatic β cells is a pathological hallmark of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus; however, no specific therapy targeting this defect is yet available. A paradigm shift with such a molecule has always been awaited. Verapamil – a nondihydropyridine calcium channel blocker used in the treatment of hypertension, angina, and tachyarrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation – has been observed to show some hope in preventing β cell loss in diabetics by inhibiting thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP).