Scientists in Sweden have developed a more reliable way to produce insulin-producing cells from human stem cells, a potential advance for type 1 diabetes treatment. Published in Stem Cell Reports, the cells regulated blood sugar and reversed diabetes in mice.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system mistakenly destroys the pancreatic cells responsible for producing insulin. Without enough insulin, the body cannot effectively process glucose, causing blood sugar levels to rise dangerously. Scientists have long viewed replacing these lost cells as a potential cure, but their attempts to generate them from stem cells have often produced inconsistent results.
New Method for Generating Insulin-Producing Cells Enables Personalized Therapies
We have created a technique that consistently generates high-quality insulin-producing cells from a variety of human stem cell lines. “This breakthrough could enable personalized cell therapies that reduce the risk of immune rejection,” said Per-Olof Berggren of Karolinska Institutet, co-corresponding author with Siqin Wu of Spiber Technologies AB.
The new method enhances the production process, yielding insulin-producing cells that are more mature and functionally superior to those generated using previous techniques. In laboratory tests, the cells secreted insulin efficiently and responded strongly to changes in glucose levels.
Scientists have long viewed replacing these lost cells as a potential cure, but previous efforts to generate them from stem cells have often produced inconsistent results. After researchers transplanted the cells into diabetic mice, they gradually restored the animals’ ability to control blood sugar. To track development, researchers implanted the cells in the eye’s anterior chamber for continuous monitoring of their growth and function.
“This technique allows us to monitor cell development and function over time in a minimally invasive way,” said Per-Olof Berggren. The cells continued maturing after transplantation and maintained blood sugar control for several months, showing promise as a future treatment.
Key Challenges in Stem Cell Diabetes Therapies
Stem cell-based treatments for type 1 diabetes are already being evaluated in clinical trials, but several challenges remain. A key problem is that stem cells can develop into a mixture of desired and undesired cell types, which may raise safety concerns. In addition, lab-produced insulin-secreting cells are often not fully mature and may respond poorly to changes in glucose levels.
To overcome these limitations, the researchers improved the cell culture method and encouraged the cells to grow into natural three-dimensional clusters. This approach reduced the formation of unwanted cell types and enhanced the cells’ glucose responsiveness.
“This could address key challenges in stem cell therapies for type 1 diabetes. Based on these results, we are moving toward clinical translation to treat the disease,” said Fredrik Lanner of Karolinska Institutet.
The study was jointly conducted by Karolinska Institutet and KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. It was funded by several organizations, including the Swedish Research Council, STINT, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, an ERC Advanced Grant, the Erling-Persson Family Foundation, the Jonas & Christina af Jochnick Foundation, the Swedish Diabetes Association, Vinnova, and Karolinska Institutet’s Strategic Research Program in Diabetes. Some authors also reported industry ties, including patents and roles at Spiber Technologies AB and Biocrine AB.
Read the original article on: sciencedaily
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