The parasite-derived peptide FhHDM-1 activates the PI3K/Akt pathway to prevent cytokine-induced apoptosis of β-cells

FhHDM-1 preserves β-cell mass in NOD mice and prevents the development of T1D. FhHDM-1 enhances phosphorylation of Akt in mouse β-cell lines. FhHDM-1 increases levels of NADH/NADPH in mouse β-cell lines in vitro. FhHDM-1 prevents cytokine-induced cell death of mouse β-cell lines and primary human β-cells in vitro via activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway.