Study That Reversed Type 1 Diabetes in Mice Goes to Human Trials
A study from Children's Hospital of Pittsburg and Pittsburgh Medical Center, has shown that type 1 diabetes can be reversed in a mouse model. The scientists extracted the mouse's dendritic cells from the blood and enhanced them with specific molecule blockers. They then reinjected them into the mouse. This procedure stopped the process that kills beta cells, by blocking the T cells which attack them.
A series of injections over the course of several weeks interrupted the T cell attack on the beta cells of the pancreas and allowed the beta cells to regenerate. This resulted in the pancreas of the mice producing insulin again.
Now, the researchers at the Children's Hospital are moving on to human trials. Phase I of the trials was set to start this this past March, to determine the safety of the procedure. Scientists are hopeful that the trials will be successful.
In a quote from a press release:
“We are very excited to begin the clinical trials and see if this process will work in patients with type 1 diabetes,” said Dr. Trucco. “A type 1 diabetes diagnosis can be devastating for children and their families. We hope this trial will have results that are life-altering for patients who suffer from this disease.”
Massimo Trucco, MD, one of the lead researchers in this study, also is the Hillman Professor of Pediatric Immunology at Children’s Hospital and a professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
The trial is currently recruiting participants with new onset type 1 diabetes. Read the requirements for the study here...
Photo courtesy of Christie Merrill/stock.xchng
Comments
THIS WOULD BE WONDERFUL FOR THE CHILDREN AND THE REST OF UP IF IT WORKS OUT AS HOPED FOR!
I hope it works. It is my greatest dream come true.
This is science with research working which we have to remember is funded through philanthropy and energetic fund raising. If this proves out it will be a huge step forward. Finger x’ed .. keep giving!
I pray this is the answer to my son’s 6 year battle with this nasty disease. I’m very hopeful this will cure type 1 diabetes and give him back his carefree childhood as well as all the others.
Read the article folks. I’m sorry to burst any bubbles, but you need to have a few remaining functioning beta cells for this method to work. For those of us with long-term type 1 diabetes and who have no beta cells left, this method won’t work. The only researcher that I am aware of that is trying to do something for those of us who have had this nightmare for a long time is Dr. Faustman in Massachussetts. She believes her method will at least answer one part of the problem in disarming the immune system and getting rid of the ‘bad’ T-cells causing the problem. Again, most reserachers are looking to help the newly diagnosed, since it might be easier to ‘cure’ these people with something other than immunosuppressive drugs and islet cell transplants (a difficult method of treatment). Yet again, the long term Type 1 diabetics have been written off by anyone other than the folks pushing for embryonic stem cell research money. Yay. *sarcastic* And of course the corporate sleazebags that try to control us by holding us hostage to our insulin shots and grossly overcharging for what should be a generic drug at this point.
Nice if this could help some type 1 newbie, but not so hot for the rest of us.
There are so many researches going on at the moment concerning type 1 diabetes cure.My problem is the snail pace at which this trails are conducted.LIVINGCELL TECHNOLOGY has a good product in diabecell which can help all type 1 diabetics both young and old.But why it is taking so long for Australian and New zealand govts to give approval for the trail is what I don’t understand.Soon health authorities in the United states will be approched, lets hope that they too will not delay the approval like the other countries.
Thanks to the Russian government for believing in this research by giving their approval.The preliminery results show that there is hope for a cure for diabetes type 1 in next few years.I am looking forward to that day. I salute all the researchers who are working day and night to relieve us of this ailment.
God is answering our prayig thak you .