Stem Cells to Help
With Diabetes
What
exactly is insulin? Insulin is a hormone created from beta cells that is
located in the pancreases that regulate the amount of glucose in blood. When
there is not enough insulin in the body that is when a type of diabetes can
come into affect. Insulin is what keeps a person’s sugar levels from either
getting too high or too low.
In Type 1
diabetes beta cells are destroyed by the body’s immune system. For the most
common form, Type 2 diabetes, the beta cells are not able to produce enough
insulin in order to keep a person’s sugar levels where they need to be. One
theory that has been mentioned to help control both types of diabetes is to use
stem cells to create properly working beta cells. In order to create this type
of cell pluripotent stem cells need to be used. Pluripotent stem cells are
cells that have been genetically reprogramed in order to replicate that of
embryonic stem cells. Dr. Douglas Melton has been striving to do just this.
After more
than 150 combinations of 70 compounds, Melton was finally able to figure out a
system of 5 different growth methods and 11 factors that when added over weeks
time produced cells that represented and functioned as beta cells. When these
cells were exposed to glucose, insulin was secreted inside of healthy mice. The
next step was to try these cells inside of mice with diabetes, whose glucose
levels were greatly reduced when the cells were added. The next step is to now
get ready for clinical trials on humans. I am very anxious to see what results
this study produces in the future. With an aunt who has battled with diabetes
from childhood, I am curious to see how this advancement could potentially help
her. Other research that Dr. Melton has conducted on the study of diabetes can
be seen below.
Jenea,
ReplyDeleteThere will always be controversy when it comes to using embryonic stem cells as a means for medicine even when there is so much research surrounding them that leads to the more beneficial side. However, this is awesome, in my opinion. I have family members and a friend that are diagnosed with diabetes. One of which, almost died from it. This research seems to be going in a really great direction and one day maybe this could be a means as to actually cure the disease in individuals that develop it. Like you, I am excited to see what direction this will go in.
If the stem cells are able to form beta cells that work properly, it would be huge for those suffering from diabetes. They wouldn't be controlled by constantly having to check their blood sugar levels and administering injections day after day. I am interested to see the outcome of the human clinical trials because this study could be a breakthrough in diabetes treatment.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm not mistaken, both of your sources are secondary, but refer to the same primary article in "Cell". Why not read that and link to it?
ReplyDelete