Stem Cells and Treatment of Diabetes

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A recent article displayed in Biotechnology is spreading the word that stem cells may have a new part to play in the treatment of diabetes.
According to researchers working at the stem cell engineering company Novocell, Inc. located in San Diego, Calif., scientists were able to transform human stem cells into almost normal insulin-producing cells when they were implanted into mice.

Both types of diabetes, formerly called non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus involve a certain loss of beta-type pancreatic cell, which regulates blood levels of sugar by the release of insulin.

The scientists transplanted immature beta cells obtained from human embryonic stem cells and placed them into mice whose own beta cells had been destroyed by chemicals. The transplanted cells developed into insulin secreting cells that were sensitive to glucose response. Not only did the cells transplant well, but showed functional ability for at least three months.

Researchers also discovered that the cells were producing the right types of enzymes and were releasing the insulin in response to the glucose levels in the blood. This discovery leads to a potential cure for diabetes called ‘cell replacement therapy’. Future studies are needed to determine if other types of stem cells would show this same promise so as not to utilize the controversial aspect of human stem cells.

While this type of research is costly, this company is looking for partners to enable continued testing and research to attain their goal of a practical treatment for one our society’s greatest disease causing conditions.

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