Diabetes Therapy Through Islet Cells Xenotransplantation

Filed in archive Drugs, Vaccines and Therapeutics , Other Biotechnology News on February 20, 2006

This entry is submitted by Gloria Gamat, via Creative Reporter.Type 1 diabetes in humans has been successfully reversed by researchers using islet transplantation. However, the demand for islet cells grossly outweighs the supply. Researchers of University of Minnesota's Diabetes Institute for Immunology and Transplantation found that islet cells from pigs are the solution to the supply shortage.

"These results suggest it is feasible to use pig islet cells as a path to a far-reaching cure for diabetes," said Bernhard J. Hering, M.D., associate professor of surgery and lead investigator. "Now that we have identified critical pathways involved in immune recognition and rejection of pig islet transplants, we can begin working on better and safer immunosuppressant therapies with the eventual goal of bringing the treatment to people."

Researchers believe that if the findings continue to be successful, it is possible to start human trials in the next three years.

This unprecedented progress on islet xenotransplantation will be released online Feb. 19, 2006 in the medical journal, Nature Medicine.

Source: EurekAlertAbout Gloria Gamat: Gloria is a Chemist and a single mom. Gloria also blogs about motherhood at EMothersOnline and about life and travel in the Philippines at The Philippine Culture Blog and at Pinoy Travel Blog respectively.