Articles tagged with Beta Cells
Researchers at Helmholtz Munich have made a breakthrough in creating insulin-producing beta cells from stem cells. By understanding the molecular regulation of stem cell differentiation, they can generate functional specialized cells for regenerative therapy approaches to chronic diseases like diabetes. This discovery has significant i...
Researchers found that silencing the gene encoding p57 Kip2 in adult human islets promotes beta cell replication. These new cells exhibit properties associated with normal beta cells, providing a potential explanation for excessive beta cell expansion in children with focal hyperinsulinism.
Researchers replicated human pancreatic beta cells in a mouse model using a silencing inhibitor, showcasing their ability to replicate while maintaining mature properties. The study's findings have implications for developing treatments to enhance beta-cell mass and insulin production for both type 1 and 2 diabetic patients.
Scientists have discovered that insulin-producing beta cells may fail due to oxygen deprivation, leading to type 2 diabetes. A second study reveals that acinar cells can be converted into functional beta cells, offering a promising new approach for treating the disease.
Researchers found that a single gene defect in MADD leads to fasting hyperglycemia and insufficient insulin secretion in mice. The study suggests that type 2 diabetes can be directly caused by the loss of a properly functioning MADD gene, highlighting potential therapeutic targets for treating people with this mutation.
A newly discovered human peptide called humanin may become a new treatment for diabetes by increasing insulin secretion and improving glucose metabolism in beta cells. Humanin levels naturally decline with age, suggesting potential benefits for patients with other conditions like stroke, heart disease, and Alzheimer's.
Researchers found that co-transplanted endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) improved the engraftment of pancreatic islet cells in mouse models, leading to a significantly improved cure rate and glycemic control. This study suggests that EPCs modulate the expression of connexin 36 and affect glucose-stimulated insulin release.
Swedish researchers have found a way to study glucose regulation by transplanting pancreas cells into the eye, allowing for monitoring of insulin-producing beta-cells and identification of new drug substances. This innovative method could lead to personalized treatment principles and diagnosis of pancreatic problems.
Researchers discovered a disease mechanism in type 1 diabetes that can be targeted using simple, naturally occurring molecules like TUDCA. The study highlights the potential for improving ER function and reducing the incidence of T1D in high-risk populations.
Researchers used induced pluripotent stem cells from patients with Wolfram syndrome to model beta-cell failure. They found that protein-folding stress caused cells to fail and discovered a chemical, 4-phenyl butyric acid, that relieves this stress, potentially leading to new treatments.
Researchers found a fat recycling system within pancreatic beta cells that regulates insulin production, providing a promising target for future diabetes treatments. By preventing this system from breaking down unwanted fats, scientists were able to increase insulin secretion.
New technology enabled scientists to prove that most people with type 1 diabetes have active beta cells producing insulin in response to food, contrary to previous thought. This finding has significant implications for understanding the biology of Type 1 diabetes and may lead to new therapies to preserve or replenish beta cells.
Scientists at Scripps Research Institute have created a comprehensive roadmap of the protein interactions that enable cells in the pancreas to produce, store and secrete insulin. The finding makes possible a deeper scientific understanding of the insulin secretion process and how it fails in insulin disorders such as type 2 diabetes.
Joslin researchers found T cells, not B cells, contribute to beta cell proliferation in type 1 diabetes. Immune cells secrete inflammatory cytokines and chemokines that enhance beta cell growth.
Researchers have developed a method to isolate and grow pancreatic stem cells from mice, which can differentiate into hormone-producing beta cells or pancreatic duct cells. This breakthrough could lead to the development of new therapeutic interventions for pancreatic diseases like diabetes.
A new study by UC San Diego researchers reveals that the pancreatic protein Nkx6.1 is crucial for regulating insulin biosynthesis and secretion in beta cells. The study found that impaired Nkx6.1 levels contribute to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, leading to rapid onset of diabetes in mice.
A clinical trial of a DNA vaccine has delivered promising results, suggesting that it may selectively counter the immune response that causes Type 1 diabetes. The vaccine reduced levels of immune cells believed responsible for the disease and maintained insulin production levels in patients.
Researchers from NYSCF and Columbia University have generated patient-specific beta cells using skin cells from MODY patients. These cells accurately reflect the features of maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) and can be used to develop new therapies for the disease. The study's findings demonstrate a critical proof-of-principl...
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine have identified a way to trigger the reproduction of human insulin-producing beta cells in a laboratory setting, potentially removing a significant obstacle to transplanting these cells as a treatment for patients with type 1 diabetes. This new technique uses a cell conditioning s...
Researchers at the University of Missouri School of Medicine have discovered a potential cure for Type 1 diabetes by combining adult stem cells with a new drug. The discovery reveals that blood vessels are essential for insulin production and repairing them can help restore insulin-making cells.
Researchers at Harvard University have discovered a hormone called betatrophin that increases insulin-secreting pancreatic beta cells by up to 30 times the normal rate. This could lead to a more natural regulation of insulin and reduced complications associated with diabetes.
Researchers used fluorescent cell labeling to determine when precursor cells develop into pancreatic beta cells. They found no evidence of neogenesis in adult mice, contradicting previous assumptions about beta cell creation. This discovery has significant implications for understanding diseases like diabetes.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center discovered that the renin angiotensin system plays a fundamental role in hypertension. They found that mice without ACE in their kidneys were resistant to high blood pressure, indicating that targeting angiotensin production may be an effective approach to treat hypertension. In contrast, stud...
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Children's Center found that a previously minor protein called EPAC2 plays a central role in regulating insulin production. The study suggests that targeting EPAC2 with drugs could potentially restore pancreatic cell function and reverse Type 2 diabetes.
Researchers at UC San Diego identified fractalkine as a new therapeutic target for treating type 2 diabetes. Administering the protein stimulated insulin secretion and improved glucose tolerance in mouse models and human islets.
Scientists at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have discovered a novel mechanism that regulates the replication of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. The findings, published in Diabetes, provide new insights into how to regenerate beta cells and potentially lead to new therapies for Type 1 and 2 diabetes.
A study published in Cell Metabolism identified a single gene mutation in SIRT1 as a potential cause of type 1 diabetes. The research found that the mutated gene led to impaired beta cell function and increased susceptibility to diabetes.
A two-year study found that gastric bypass surgery reverses diabetes by uniquely restoring pancreatic function, particularly in reducing belly fat. The study showed a remarkable 5.8-fold increase in overall pancreatic cell function in patients who underwent gastric bypass.
Scientists successfully use parthenogenic stem cells to develop functional heart muscle and treat pulmonary fibrosis. Researchers find that inhibiting a protein called ROCK attenuates myofibroblast survival and prevents lung scarring.
Scientists successfully repurposed human alpha cells into functional beta cells by modifying chromatin material, demonstrating the potential for a novel diabetes treatment. The study also reveals that many genes in alpha cells are marked with both activating and repressing histone modifications.
Researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have successfully generated human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from patients with maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY), a rare form of diabetes. The hiPSCs offer a powerful tool for studying the genetic mechanisms underlying MODY and testing potential treatments.
Scientists have made significant progress towards developing a potential stem cell therapy for diabetes. The study found that human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) can differentiate into endocrine cells that are remarkably similar to primary human counterparts. However, hESC-derived endocrine cells produced in vitro lack key features and ...
A team of UCSB researchers has identified changes in cellular metabolism as the triggering factor for Type 2 diabetes. By studying the four types of components that make up cells, they found a 'tipping point' where metabolic threshold is crossed, leading to beta cell failure and insulin regulation issues.
Studies have shown that the autonomic nervous system plays a crucial role in regulating insulin secretion from beta cells in the pancreas. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet successfully grafted beta cells into mice eyes to study their function, revealing how the autonomic nervous system influences blood glucose levels.
Scientists from the Danish Stem Cell Center found that stem cells grow better in three-dimensional environments, leading to improved insulin-producing cell development. This discovery holds promise for improving diabetes treatment with cell therapy.
Researchers at Thomas Jefferson University found that normalizing the population of protective T regulatory cells in the pancreatic lymph nodes can regenerate insulin-producing beta cells and normalize blood sugar levels in diabetic mice. The study suggests a new approach to confront local autoimmune reactions in type 1 diabetes.
Researchers found that VEGF-modified bone marrow stem cells sustain pancreatic recovery in a laboratory mouse model of insulin-dependent diabetes. The study provides new insights into mechanisms involved in regeneration of insulin-producing cells and offers evidence for using diabetic patients' own bone marrow as a source of treatment.
A new study from the University of Copenhagen suggests that an increased activity of a particular iron-transport protein destroys insulin-producing beta cells, leading to type-2 diabetes. Mice without this iron transporter are protected against developing diabetes, providing potential insights into preventing the disease.
Wolfram syndrome is a rare disorder that causes diabetes, hearing and vision loss, nerve cell damage, and early death. Researchers have identified a mechanism related to mutations in the WFS1 gene that affects insulin-secreting beta cells, which could lead to new treatment targets for the disease.
Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center discovered that beta cells in type 2 diabetes do not die but de-differentiate under stress, suggesting a potential new approach to treatment. By targeting signaling pathways such as Wnt or Notch, scientists may be able to promote re-differentiation of beta cells.
Researchers at Lund University have developed a new approach that links gene variants to their effect on insulin production in human beta cells. The study explains 25% of variations in blood sugar levels, providing greater insight into the causes of type 2 diabetes.
A UCSF study reveals TXNIP's role in amplifying stress in the earliest stages of diabetes, leading to pancreatic cell death and insulin production loss. The molecule is central to the inflammatory process, making it a promising new drug target for preventing or stalling diabetes.
Researchers at UNIGE have developed a new model to study the protein Cx36, which plays a crucial role in insulin production. By analyzing 1040 molecules, they aim to identify those that stimulate or inhibit insulin production, paving the way for new pharmacological treatment strategies for type 2 diabetes.
A new study published in Diabetologia found that overexpressing the c-Kit receptor increases insulin production and counteracts early diabetic effects of high-fat diets. This breakthrough research provides a promising lead for developing strategies to preserve and restore function to beta cells.
Researchers at UNC School of Medicine used injections of non-depleting antibodies to rapidly reverse the onset of Type I diabetes in mice. The treatment maintained disease remission indefinitely without harming the immune system, with some animals remaining free of diabetes after over 400 days.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have found a hormone that stimulates insulin secretion from islet cells and protects them against toxic factors. This discovery could lead to new prevention and treatment options for type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Scientists at DanStem and Hagedorn Research Institute map new knowledge about insulin production, including the Notch signaling mechanism's role in controlling stem cell development. This breakthrough enables researchers to design new experimental methods for cultivating stem cells into insulin-producing beta cells.
Researchers at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München have developed a genetically modified strain of pigs whose beta-cells can restore glucose homeostasis and inhibit human-anti-pig immune reaction. This breakthrough could potentially treat type 1 diabetes, overcoming the major barrier of immune rejection.
Researchers have developed a new type of human stem cell called endodermal progenitor cells, which can differentiate into multiple cell types, including functioning pancreatic beta cells. The cells show promise for modeling human diseases and may offer a potential source for future diabetes treatments.
Researchers developed a new method to create 3D pancreatic beta-cell clusters that live longer and secrete more insulin than single cells. This breakthrough advances the study of pancreatic diseases like diabetes and enables testing of novel therapies.
Scientists discover that cellular stress takes place in pancreatic beta cells before T1D onset, potentially igniting autoimmune attack. ER stress response may contribute to beta cell dysfunction and death, shedding light on disease progression and potential therapeutic targets.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have identified a cell-signaling pathway that plays a key role in increasing insulin secretion during pregnancy, leading to the development of gestational diabetes. The study found that blocking this pathway can lead to impaired glucose regulation and reduced beta cell mass.
A new JDRF-funded study identifies genes expressed in beta cells, suggesting a role in their own destruction leading to T1D. The research may help explain why the immune system specifically attacks beta cells, opening up new avenues for understanding and treating the disease.
Scientists at the Diabetes Research Institute developed an oxygen-generating biomaterial to enhance insulin-producing cell survival. The material, PDMS-CaO2, generates critical oxygen for up to six weeks, mimicking the native pancreas environment.
A study from Massachusetts General Hospital found that C-peptide production persists for decades after Type 1 diabetes onset, and beta cell functioning remains intact at low levels. The novel ultrasensitive assay detected C-peptide in 34 of 54 blood samples, suggesting a longer window for therapeutic intervention.
Researchers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute discovered that beta cells in the pancreas use taste receptors to sense fructose, a type of sugar. This finding suggests that fructose plays a role in insulin release, amplifying the effect of glucose and potentially impacting metabolic diseases like obesity and diabetes.
Graham Johnson's entry, a collaboration with colleagues, won first place in the video category for its visualization of complex 3D data sets. The winning tool enables scientists to compare parameters of complicated structures at a glance.
Researchers at La Jolla Institute identified specific T cells that trigger type 1 diabetes in humans for the first time in human tissues. The study provides a crucial step in interrupting the disease process and highlights CD8 T cells as key players.
A new method uses stem cells from cord blood to re-educate a diabetic's own T cells, restarting pancreatic function and reducing the need for insulin. After two to three hours, the re-educated lymphocytes are returned to the patient, improving C-peptide levels and allowing for reduced insulin doses.
A new study reveals altered insulin signaling in the pancreas of Type 2 diabetics, resulting in a decrease in beta cell production and quality. The distorted signals disrupt the replication process of beta cells, leading to a major defect in insulin secretion.