Breakthrough: Insulin-Producing Cells Grown from Stomach Tissue Show Diabetes Reversal in Mice
Researchers at a major US medical institution conducted a provocative study that suggests insulin-secreting cells, generated from stomach-based stem cells, can restore glycemic control in diabetic mice. The work, published in a leading scientific journal, demonstrates a novel path toward cell-based therapies for type 1 diabetes and potentially some forms of type 2 diabetes. This finding adds a new layer to the ongoing exploration of how the body can renew its insulin-producing capacity using a patient’s own cells. (Nature Cell Biology)
In healthy physiology, pancreatic beta cells release insulin in response to rising blood sugar, helping tissues take up glucose. Diabetes disrupts this system, complicating metabolic balance and increasing the risk of dangerous complications. A severe disruption of carbohydrate metabolism may lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, marked by elevated acids and glucose in the bloodstream and a dangerous shift in blood pH. Symptoms can appear rapidly and range from loss of appetite to nausea, abdominal pain, and a distinct fruity breath due to acetone. If untreated, the condition may progress to confusion, coma, or life-threatening outcomes. (Nature Cell Biology)
The researchers reported success by deriving GINS cells from gastric stem cells that mimic the function of natural beta cells. In a carefully controlled sequence, three specific proteins were activated to switch plans of gene expression, guiding stem cells toward a GINS cell fate. The process was conducted in the laboratory, and the resulting cells demonstrated responsiveness to glucose.
These lab-grown cells were then transplanted into diabetic mice, where they effectively restored insulin activity and stabilized blood sugar levels, providing a functional model for potential autologous cell therapies. The results suggest that patient-derived, stomach-origin cells could one day form the basis of a durable treatment for insulin-dependent diabetes, reducing the burden of ongoing injections or device-based therapies. (Nature Cell Biology)
The authors emphasize that the study lays a solid foundation for translating this approach into human therapies, with the aim of offering new options for people living with type I diabetes and certain severe cases of type II diabetes. Further research will be needed to address long-term safety, immune considerations, and practical clinical implementation, but the work represents a meaningful advance in the field of regenerative medicine and diabetes research. (Nature Cell Biology)