Stemming the problem.
Insulin dependant diabetes is a disease that affects both humans and animals. It is thought to be an autoimmune disease that causes the destruction of insulin producing β-Islet cells within the pancreas. Insulin is an essential hormone for regulating glucose metabolism. Therefore, an inability to produce insulin is incompatible with life. Consequently, affected animals and humans require careful administration of subcutaneous insulin to titrate circulating blood glucose levels to within acceptable limits. This is not only painful, but often extremely difficult for animal owners to administer.
Recent advances in stem cell research have highlighted stem cells as a promising future therapy for this disease. Simply put, a stem cell is a cell that has the ability to become almost any type of cell of any tissue type. Therefore, it is theoretically possible that stem cells could be harvested and manipulated to differentiate (turn into) into insulin producing B-Islet cells that could be transplanted into the pancreas. Consequently, recipient animals would no longer require the administration of insulin.
Trials have investigated the use of both embryonic and adult stem cells. Researchers have been able to manipulate/trigger the cells to differentiate into cells that resemble pancreatic β-Islets and are able to produce insulin in response to glucose. Transplantation of these cells into mice has shown some success in alleviating diabetic symptoms. These promising results indicate that with further research stem cell therapy may become a leading future therapy for the treatment of insulin dependant diabetes in both animals and humans.
Posted by Michael Valentine
Student # 41389883
Primary resources
Ibii, T, Shimada, H, Miura, S, Fukuma, E, Sato, H, Iwata, H 2007, ‘Possibility of insulin-producing cells derived from mouse embryonic stem cells for diabetes treatment’, Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering, vol 103, pp. 140-146.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6VSD-4N8DJYS-6/2/5ed107e70d71165a84d228bf4589bc0b (Accessed 28/5/07)
Mastroieni, C. (2007). Stem Cells in the Treatment of Diabetes: Therapeutic Potential and Ethical Considerations. Santa Clara University: Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/submitted/stem_cells.html (Accessed 28/5/07)
Bethesda, M. D. Stem Cells and Diabetes (2006), National Institutes of Health, U.D. Department of Health and Human Services, http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/scireport/chapter7.asp (Accessed 28/5/07)
Secondary resources
University of Wisconsin-Madison Embryonic Stem Cell Fact Sheet (2007) http://www.news.wisc.edu/packages/stemcells/facts.html#1 (Accessed 28/5/07)
