Harry Heimberg of the JDRF Center at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, in Belgium, and the Beta Cell Biology Consortium has published a study outlining how scientists isolated pancreatic stem cells in adult mice. Researchers hope the breakthrough could lead to treatment for Type 1 and/or juvenile diabetes.
Scientists have been looking for stem cells in the pancreas for some time. The cells have the potential of restoring the pancreas' ability to create natural insulin that is required to maintain balanced sugar levels in the body. The researchers are hoping to be able to program the pancreatic stem cells found in the mice to generate new insulin producing beta cells.
"One of the most interesting characteristics of these (adult) progenitor cells is that they are almost indistinguishable from embryonic progenitors. The most important challenge now is to extrapolate our findings to patients with diabetes," said Heimberg. He warns however that this possible treatment is a long way from being reality.
Juvenile and Type 1 diabetes affects 5 to 10% of the American population and there is no cure for the disease.
[Source: YahooNews]
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