Scientists have found a way to reverse type 1 diabetes – at least in mice. According to a report published in the May 9 issue of Science Translational Medicine, researchers managed to eliminate renegade immune cells and replace them with revitalized insulin-producing cells. The procedure worked in seven out of 12 mice, and what is significant is that it worked on those who had lost all ability to make insulin for a few weeks – equivalent to human patients who haven’t had the ability for years.
Researchers apparently used specially designed antibodies in the mice to wipe out the rogue beta-cell-killing T cells from the immune system. Miao Wang, an endocrinologist at the City of Hope Beckman Research Institute in Duarte, Calif., explained that recipient mice also got stripped down T cells from mismatched donor mice. Those mice then were injected for 60 days with hormone and growth-factor injections.
While the cured mice only regained 25 percent of their normal supply of beta cells, it was enough insulin to fend off high blood sugar, as the beta cells continued multiplying, ScienceNews.com reported.
“We believe there are pre-existing beta-cell progenitors inside the pancreas,” explained Wang.
“If our therapy could successfully translate to humans,” the scientist added, “I think it could be a replacement for islet transplantation.”
Although this news sounds good, one sentence that the article added at the end without much explanation was “The seven animals remained free of diabetes 150 days after treatments ended.”
As a reminder, the JDCA Practical Cure definition states that a cure needs to be permanent – so if the mice relapses and started showing a signs of type 1 diabetes again, it really can not be considered a “cure.”
It is necessary that we know what exactly we are looking for in a diabetes cure, so that we meet those standards or continue working until we meet them. If this new discovery proves to pave the way for a “cure,” that would be great – as long as the cure is not limited to 150 dates.
– Stoyan
