Research could be 'holy grail' for type 1 treatment

[Amity Island]

Researchers say they have made a breakthrough in the treatment of type 1 diabetes which could replace the need for regular insulin injections.

The two cancer drugs used in the research are already approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Researchers said the potential treatment could be "rapid" compared to current treatment options for type 1 diabetes.

"We've been able to repurpose these drugs to determine whether we could influence the trajectory by using these small molecule inhibitors in pancreatic ductal cells".

Researchers say diabetes treatment breakthrough could lead to end of insulin injections

Researchers at the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute say they've discovered a way to make pancreatic cells produce insulin using existing cancer drugs.

www.abc.net.au

 

[Amity Island]

"Institute scientists shows they have manipulated existing pancreatic stem cells to prompt them to produce insulin".

@Inka I have always been under the impression that there is nothing wrong with our pancreatic cells, its the constant auto-immune attack that is the problem? Thus; why would fixing the pancreatic cell be the solution?

 

[Inka]

I’m not sure @Amity Island but I know we have different cella’s in our pancreas. The beta cells produce insulin, but apparently other cells called alpha cells could, in theory, produce it too. Now, whether our immune systems would just attack the alpha cells aswell, I don’t know. It might depend on what particular antibodies we have.

As always, I take all this research with a pinch of salt. Lots of it is bigged up to get funding, which is fine, but I don’t let myself get excited about it.

 

[harbottle]

Alpha cells produce glucagon (Tells the body to make some glucose!) and I believe they can also be affected in T1D and don't work properly (Although aren't destroyed like most of the beta cells.). They don't respond to hypoglycaemia.

 

[Inka]

There’s one theory that says Type 1 is a misfunction of glucagon production @harbottle I think it was by John ‘somebody’ (not much help, I know!).

The thinking is that the alpha cells can be persuaded or manipulated to produce insulin.

 

[harbottle]

I think the research in this paper is for the progenitor cells that 'differentiate' into beta and alpha cells (Which are themselves derived from stem cells) in the duct to be treated with a drug that activates genes that make them act like beta cells and release insulin when they come into contact with glucose.

Interestingly, it's also been noticed that some beta cells are still around in T1 diabetes, but have just stopped working (And the same may be true of T2, as the mass of beta stills is still quite capable, even if it is has been reduced, but they just don't appear to work any more.)

 

[mitchsi]

I saw someone post or I read a study in which new beta cells could be transplanted or stem cells used but the person would be on immuno suppressants.
Followup to this was the scientists parcelling the new beta cells in some kind of envelop so that immuno suppressants wouldn’t be required as they would be protected. That 2nd part is very interesting.

 

[Inka]

Yes, that’s the current thinking @mitchsi Some years ago they were trying to encapsulate the cells in some kind of protective case made from a derivative of chitin or similar. I can’t remember which company that was because there are a number (was it Viacyte?) and they often merge or got bought out so the names sometimes change.

 

[mitchsi]

The rate of change of technology is phenomenal, will be following with interest!