A report by the Science Codex has shed light on some interesting developments in Germany, a country with over 250,000 type 1 diabetics. Although pancreas organ transplantation is not a new idea, it is very difficult to see how such a procedure can grow to become a cure for most people affected with the disease. Not only does it require harsh immunosuppressants, but there are also a limited amount of donor pancreas’.
Another technique, Xenotransplantation, seeks to address some of these limitations. This procedure takes the pancreas from an animal, most often pigs, and transplants it into a human. This could potentially allow a type 1 diabetic to live a normal lifestyle without having to take insulin shots. An obvious problem with this will be the strong immune rejection against the transplant, but German scientists see potential in this type of treatment.
“Whether the strategy will work in humans remains to be demonstrated,” says Professor Eckhard Wolf, who is leading a study on xenotransplantation ”Nevertheless, we consider the approach as very promising and plan to test it further in other settings.”
“Pigs represent a possible alternative source, because glucose metabolism in this species is very similar to that in human beings,” added Professor Jochen Seissler, who is also involved in the study. Fewer than 200 human pancreas transplants have been carried out, but if researchers can figure out a stable and successful method of animal-to-human transplantations, there is the potential that it can cure a lot more people.
Whether this project really becomes the next big thing in type 1 diabetes research remains to be seen – but it is a good reminder that other, non-conventional methods out there are being considered as far as curing this disease goes. As with any potential “cure,” however, we need to know what the final objectives are, and whether most people will really consider the results a “cure.”
Questions we can ask ourselves pertaining to the JDCA’s definition of a Practical Cure include: How long will the recovery process after the operation last? The JDCA defines a Practical Cure, if surgical, as requiring a full recovery of less than 72 hours. Secondly, what kind of side effects will it bring? Will it last?
We need to look forward with hope, but also be inquisitive and make sure that the “cure” is not worse than the disease.
– Stoyan
