Human stem cells might fulfill the promise of treating or
perhaps even curing diabetes, said a study in the journal Nature
Biotechnology as quoted by media reports Thursday.
Human stem cells were transformed into nearly normal
insulin-producing cells when implanted into mice, added the
study.
Previous research showed that transplantation of pancreatic beta
cells, which regulate blood glucose levels by releasing insulin,
can help control diabetes in humans. But the therapy relies on
cells from donor pancreases, meaning the supply of such cells is
limited.
The researchers transplanted immature beta cells derived from
human embryonic stem cells into mice whose beta cells had been
destroyed by chemical treatment.
The transplanted cells developed into glucose-responsive,
insulin-secreting cells and helped control blood glucose levels in
the mice one to three months later.
"They are producing all the right enzymes and release insulin in
response to glucose," Emmanuel Baetge, chief scientific officer of
California-based Novocell Inc, was quoted as saying.
"Our data provide the first compelling evidence that human
embryonic stem cells can serve as a renewable source of functional
insulin-producing cells for diabetes cell replacement therapies,"
said Baetge.
Baetge said his company has technology to encapsulate cells,
protecting them from the immune system rejection response. And
patients could use donations of stem cells from other people
without taking immune-suppressing drugs.
"It won't get to the underlying cause of the autoimmune disease.
It is only going to allow us to transplant the cells without giving
immunosuppression," Baetge noted.
The company is now looking for a large pharmaceutical company to
cooperate for further development.
(Agencies via Xinhua News Agency February 21, 2008)