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White blood cells may produce insulin
A scientific collaboration between a Spanish team from the Institute of
Bioengineering in Alicante
and a German team from University of Kiel may help find a cure for diabetes.
The chairman of the European Stem Cell Network, Bernat Soria, together with
Fred Fandrich from
the University of Kiel, say conditions were created to coax white blood
cells to produce insulin.
The full study is to appear in the journal Gastroenterology, but at a
conference in UK the scientists
revealed that the transformed cells when injected to diabetic mice, returned
the mice's blood sugar
levels to normal. When the transformed cells were injected into diabetic
mice, their blood sugar levels
returned to normal. After a week, the effect disappeared because the mice's
immune system destroyed the human cells.
Speaking about making white blood cells produce insulin, Chris Burns of
King's College, London,
a scientist who studies beta cells, says it is not clear whether the
insulin-producing cells actually transform
themselves into beta cells or another cell type to produce the hormone.
This does not matter as long as
the cells produce normal insulin in response to rising blood sugar levels.
"If this is the case, it would be a significant advance," he says.
Many other teams have worked to derive insulin-producing cells from human
ESCs. The unanimous
conclusion is that this is not the perfect solution because the matching
cells should be obtained
for every individual. Even if the beta cells will be in perfect match, they
will still need drugs to avoid the destruction caused by self-defending reaction
of autoimmune system
NOTE: The Information on this site is provided for information only,
and is not meant to substitute for the advice of your own physician or other medical professional.
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