Step closer to stem cell treatment for diabetes

Using embryonic stem cells as a starting point, Harvard researchers have produced human insulin-producing beta cells in massive quantities. These cells – equivalent to normally functioning beta cells in almost every way - could be used in cell transplantation or pharmaceutical purposes. Doug Melton, who has two children with type 1 diabetes, hopes to have human transplantation trials using the cells underway in a few years. “We are not just one preclinical step away from the finish line,” said Melton, lead author of the work published in Cell. “You never know for sure that something like this is going to work until you’ve tested it numerous ways. We’ve given these cells three separate challenges with glucose mice and they’ve responded appropriately; that was really exciting.” The stem cell-derived beta cells are undergoing trials in animal models, including non-human primates. In type 1 diabetes, the body kills off all the pancreatic beta cells that produce insulin needed for glucose regulation. The final preclinical step in developing a treatment involves protecting around 150 million cells that could potentially be transplanted from attack by the immune system. Melton is currently working with Daniel G Anderson of MIT to develop an implantation device to do this job. The device they are testing has so far protected beta cells implanted in mice from immune attach for many months – and are still producing insulin.