Some Pancreatic Cells Are Just One Genetic Tweak Away From Treating Diabetes
By deactivating a gene, researchers were able to cause cells in the pancreatic ducts to produce insulin to regulate blood sugar.
Pancreatic cells may be on the verge of aiding diabetes treatment, according to recent research. Scientists have discovered that by altering a single gene, these cells can transform into beta-like cells, which produce insulin. This finding could pave the way for new treatments for diabetes, a condition affecting an estimated 830 million people worldwide.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School used a genetic screen to identify the gene ALDH3B2 as crucial for this transformation. When this gene was silenced, the rate of ductal cells turning into beta-like cells increased significantly. These initial experiments were conducted on human cells in a lab, and later transplanted into diabetic mice, resulting in improved glucose levels for up to six weeks.
While this approach has potential, there are challenges to overcome, such as ensuring precision in editing cells and understanding the full role of ALDH3B2 in the process. Scientists are now exploring gene therapy or small molecules to inhibit ALDH3B2, with the goal of achieving similar results or even better outcomes.
Written by urgent.news from Wired's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
