Making cells cancerous can heal diabetic ulcers. Reported by Nanjing University.
Diabetes affects more than 100 million people worldwide, and its worst complication, diabetic foot ulcers, causes amputation every 30 seconds on average. One of the main reasons they don’t get better is the dysfunction of a mixed group of immune cells called macrophages. These cells alter their functions to coordinate wound healing at different stages, but are unable to do so in diabetic pathology.
Chinese scientists have proposed a method to solve this problem based on the observation of cancer-associated macrophages. They play an important role in tumor development by secreting factors that promote blood vessel formation and suppress immune attack. Such properties are ideal for healing diabetic ulcers. The scientists suggested that cancer macrophages can “transfer” their properties to non-tumor macrophages when grown together, just as they affect other cells in a living organism.
During the experiment, normal macrophages from mouse bone marrow gained a range of pro-regenerative functions after co-cultivation with tumor samples. When transferred to the wound bed of diabetic mice, these cells promoted cell proliferation, eliminated inflammation and normalized the vasculature.
As a result, the scientists identified which nine factors contribute to cell proliferation and wound healing. During the experiment, they were able to artificially “inoculate” a culture of human cells—with no contact between a potential patient’s cells and cancer cells.
The authors hope that eventually their method will be applied to the treatment of diabetes.