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Can type 1 diabetes be defined as a specific disorder of the endocannabinoid system?
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CARE FOR TYPE 1 DIABETES

Let’s Discover a New Dimension of Type 1 Diabetes Together

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a well-known autoimmune disease, yet its root cause remains a mystery. What triggers the immune system to attack its own pancreatic beta cells?

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More and more studies suggest that autoimmunity in T1D may stem from dysregulation of the endocannabinoid system (ECS), caused by gut microbiota disturbances. A reduced population of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria and lower SCFA levels in the body may play a key role.

 

Why are AEA and 2-AG levels crucial?

 

Endocannabinoids anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) are naturally occurring compounds that regulate the ECS, which in turn influences immunity, metabolism, inflammation, and gut function.

  • AEA is linked to the regulation of inflammation and apoptosis.
  • 2-AG is the primary activator of CB2 receptors, which regulate immune responses and may
    promote immune tolerance.

Plasma levels of AEA and 2-AG reflect the overall condition of the ECS and the balance between pro-inflammatory CB1 and anti-inflammatory CB2 receptors. Disruptions in these key endocannabinoids may indicate endocannabinoid imbalance, which could be central to causally treating T1D. If we confirm that individuals with T1D exhibit characteristic ECS dysfunction, it could open the door to novel therapeutic strategies aimed at restoring this balance.

 

We already know that gut microbiota affects ECS health, and in T1D, these two systems may be more interconnected than previously assumed. That’s why we’re launching the ECBoM project – the world’s first study profiling the endocannabinoid and microbiota status of people with T1D. It may reveal groundbreaking insights into the disease’s mechanisms and pave the way for new treatments.

 

 

 

What will this give us?

 

Understanding the link between ECS, gut microbiota, and T1D will offer a new perspective. If we confirm specific patterns of ECS and microbiota dysfunction in T1D patients, we may develop new therapies – based on phytocannabinoids, probiotics, and microbiota-regulating strategies.

 

 

What does our project involve?

 

We will study 80 people with T1D, analyzing factors such as:

  • Gender, age, duration of the disease
  • HbA1c and C-peptide levels (diabetes control markers)

 We will conduct laboratory tests:

 

 From blood and serum:

  • Measurement of main endocannabinoids (AEA and 2-AG)
  • SCFA levels in plasma
  • Extended lipid profile
  • Ionogram
  • Inflammatory markers
  • C-peptide
  • HbA1c

From stool:

  • Microbiota profiling – determining ratios of pro- and anti-inflammatory bacteria
  • Markers of intestinal permeability (claudin, occludin, zonulin)
  • SCFA levels in stool
  • Analysis of key bacteria, such as:
    • Faecalibacterium prausnitzii
    • Roseburia
    • Akkermansia muciniphila
    • Bifidobacterium longum

We will analyze all data using big data methods to:

  • Identify ECS and microbiota dysfunction patterns in T1D
  • Discover correlations between microbiota status and ECS regulation
  • Redefine type 1 diabetes through a new lens

 

What do we want to achieve?

 

✅ A new perspective on T1D – Confirming that type 1 diabetes is not only an autoimmune disease but also a specific ECS and gut microbiota disorder


✅ A breakthrough in therapy – Potential development of new treatments: phytocannabinoids, probiotics, and microbiota-based therapies


✅ Scientific progress – The first study of its scale to shed light on the ECS and microbiota’s role in autoimmune diseases

 

 

Open-access results for everyone

 

 

Our study findings will be published in an open-access scientific journal so that everyone – patients, doctors, and researchers – can freely benefit from the knowledge. We believe knowledge should be accessible to all, not hidden behind paywalls.

 

 

Why do we need your support?

 

A study of this scale is a major logistical and financial undertaking. We need funds for:

Specialized lab tests for 100 participants
  Advanced big data analysis
  A team of researchers and experts

 

Every donation is a step closer to a breakthrough in T1D therapy!

 

 

Join us today!

 

Your support will help uncover groundbreaking mechanisms behind type 1 diabetes and lay the foundation for new, more effective treatment methods.