Stem cells could treat type one diabetes

Many diabetics dream of a cure for their disease, and while there have been some breakthroughs such as pancreatic transplants, there has been little in the way of a real cure.  However, scientists  from the University of British Columbia say that they have reversed diabetes in mice by using stem cells.

Timothy Kieffer, a professor in the Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, working alongside scientists from BetaLogics, a company based in New Jersey, have shown that transplanting human stem cells into mice can restore insulin production and reverse diabetes.  However, it should be remembered that this research is in its early stages and how well this would work in humans is unclear, but it is still reason for hope.

Once the stem cell transplant had been completed the mice were gradually weaned off insulin over a 3-4 month period.  The mice were able to maintain good glucose control even when they given high amounts of sugar.

Commenting in a press release, Kieffer said:

"We are very excited by these findings, but additional research is needed before this approach can be tested clinically in humans.”

“The studies were performed in diabetic mice that lacked a properly functioning immune system that would otherwise have rejected the cells. We now need to identify a suitable way of protecting the cells from immune attack so that the transplant can ultimately be performed in the absence of any immunosuppression.”