Important step towards a cure for diabetes

According to research, embryonic stem (ES) cells were turned into insulin-making tissue in diabetic mice. This could lead to the use of embryonic stem cells to make new insulin-producing islets. Stem cells are cells that are capable of self-renewal and are multipotent, meaning that they can differentiate into many specific cell types. ES cells are continuously growing stem cell lines derived from the embryo. This study was done at the department of developmental biology and division of oncology, Stanford University, USA. They treated mouse embryonic stem cells and produced cells that resembled pancreatic beta cells in several ways. These cells produced insulin at levels far greater than previously reported. Transplantation of these cells increased circulating insulin levels, reduced weight loss, improved glycaemic control, and completely rescued survival in diabetic mice. Analysis of the transplanted cells revealed that the insulin-producing cells remained differentiated, enlarged, and did not form tumours. These results provide evidence that embryonic stem cells can serve as a source of insulin-producing replacement tissue in an experimental animal model of diabetes mellitus. Strategies for producing cells that can replace insulin producing cell functions can be adapted for similar use humans. This could be the first step towards finding a permanent cure for diabetes.