Researchers have succeeded in mice to regenerate beta cells destroyed by type 1 diabetes. Their objective is to demonstrate that this process is applicable in humans.
The discovery will undoubtedly give hope to all type 1 diabetics (T1D) whose daily life is so restrictive. From Inserm researchers recently succeeded in regenerating the insulin-producing beta cells that this disease destroys. In fact, T1D is an autoimmune disease in which the loss of beta cells induces hyperglycemia and therefore too much chronic sugar. This pathology can have dramatic consequences for patients in the long term (gangrene, cardiovascular disease, kidney problems). Patients with this diabetes thus have a reduced life expectancy of 5 to 8 years.
It is in this context that Patrick Collombat, research director at Inserm and his team carried out an experiment on genetically modified mice. The goal was to achieve regeneration of beta cells that are lost in these patients. Their approach has been to convert certain pancreatic cells into cells that make insulin.
And the researchers managed to achieve this feat by forcing the expression of a single gene that they added to this inexhaustible source of beta cells identified in the pancreas of these mice. “The beauty of the system and where the miracle lies”, as Patrick Collombat confides to why actor : “Is that the converted cells are replaced by the body itself”, that is to say that the body detects that these cells are missing and it will itself regenerate them. “We end up with a system that allows continuous regeneration of destroyed cells”.
Listen to Patrick Collombat, research director at Inserm: “ We have been able to demonstrate that we could regenerate at least four times all of all the cells that make insulin … “
As a result, scientists have the hope that one day they will be able to reproduce this feat on humans. Inserm is currently testing millions of molecules that could reproduce this mechanism, and the dream is that within 10-15 years a drug will be produced for patients. This treatment could improve the daily life of these diabetics and relieve them for a shorter or longer period of the painful days they undergo, punctuated by injections to control their blood sugar and insulin intake.
However, Patrick Collombat wishes to remain cautious, and does not wish to create false hopes because it is still too early to announce the imminent release of a new miracle treatment for all these diabetics, “we are currently working with Harvard University. , we are not there yet, but hope is there ”. A ray of hope for the more than 30 million people in the world affected by this disease!
Listen to Patrick Collombat : ” We could have maintenance of blood sugar that would be completely normal for at least a few months, or even more, so more treatment for a given period.…
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