Researchers in Sweden have developed an improved technique for producing insulin-producing cells from human stem cells, in a move that could pave the way for a more effective treatment for type 1 diabetes.
These cells showed high efficiency in laboratory experiments and helped reverse diabetes in laboratory mice, according to the study conducted by researchers from the Karolinska Institute and the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH).
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, preventing the body from controlling blood glucose levels. Replacing these cells with new ones is one of the most promising treatment approaches, although previous attempts to produce them from stem cells have not been stable or precise enough.
The researchers explained that their new method produces more mature and purified cells compared to traditional methods, demonstrating a clear ability to secrete insulin and respond to changes in blood sugar levels. When implanted into diabetic mice, these cells gradually regained their ability to regulate blood sugar, and this effect lasted for several months.
The implantation was performed in the anterior chamber of the eye, a technique that allows for monitoring cells and their functions over time in a minimally invasive manner, the researchers explained.
The team also noted that one of the major previous challenges was producing an inaccurate mix of cells, including unwanted cells, as well as insufficiently mature insulin-producing cells. However, the new method relies on modifying the culture conditions and allowing the cells to assemble into three-dimensional structures, thus reducing these problems and improving the quality of the resulting cells.
Per-Olof Berggren, a professor at the Karolinska Institute and lead author of the study, said: “This technique allows for the production of high-quality cells from several stem cell lineages, which could open the door to personalized therapies that reduce the likelihood of rejection by the immune system.”
Frederick Lanner, co-author of the study, confirmed that this development could help overcome the obstacles that have hindered stem cell therapy for type 1 diabetes, noting that the team is moving towards clinical steps with the aim of developing an actual treatment for the disease.
The study was published in the journal "Stem Cell Reports".
