Jul 10
2
Researchers May Have Cure For Diabetes in the Future?
Wash U Researchers May Have Cure For Diabetes
Pig Cells Have Cured Diabetes In Rats – Human Tests Could Be 5 Years Away
by Chris Higgins/www.fox2now.com
Possible Cure for Diabetes
Washington University research team may have found a way to cure diabetes with pig cells.
ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) – Recent results from the latest research on diabetes conducted at the Washington University School of Medicine shows promise that there can be a cure for this disease. Dr. Marc Hammerman’s findings released Monday in the American Journal of Pathology showcase a big step forward in diabetes research. Using a unique one-two punch, Dr. Hammerman has cured diabetes in rats.
The research started with transplanting embryonic pig cells into diabetic rats. Over six weeks, these cells become the rat’s pancreas, which houses the insulin producing Islet cells needed to regulate sugar. This then primes the rat’s immune system for a second implantation of Islet cells from an adult pig.
“As a scientist, I try to maintain my objectivity, but yeah, I’m excited,” said Dr. Hammerman.
To assure this testing can cure the disease in people, Dr. Hammerman says more research is needed on animals that share more human characteristics than rats, “We need to make sure the therapy is effective long term, that we get a long term cure of the diabetes and that it’s safe.”
The most important factor in this newly devised technique is that first transplant of pig pancreas cells which short circuits the immune system to get it ready for the following transplant. The second transplant then delivers insulin producing cells.
A variation on this technique is now done on people with human cells, but it requires anti-rejection medication, which is another set of problems.
No human stem cells are used in this procedure. All cells used are from pigs.
Human testing should take place within the next five years and it’s for both Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetics.