Recent research published in Science Translational Medicine offers promising advancements in developing regenerative therapies for diabetes. A team of scientists from City of Hope and Mount Sinai Health System has discovered a therapeutic combination that stimulates the regeneration of human beta cells, the insulin-producing cells critical for blood sugar regulation.
The research involved transplanting a few human beta cells into mice with type 1 and 2 diabetes models. The mice were then treated with a combination of harmine, a natural product found in plants, and GLP1 receptor agonists, a common type 2 diabetes medication. Strikingly, this combination therapy led to a 700% increase in human beta cell numbers within three months.
Adolfo Garcia-Ocaña, the lead author of the study, indicated that this breakthrough represents the first time a drug treatment has been proven to enhance adult human beta cell production in vivo and that this discovery offers hope for developing regenerative therapies that could benefit millions of people living with diabetes.
The research team’s findings build upon earlier work published in Nature Medicine in 2015, which identified harmine as a potential candidate for beta cell regeneration. Through extensive animal models and drug treatment studies, the team has further validated this combination therapy’s therapeutic potential.
The ability to regenerate beta cells holds significant implications for diabetes treatment. Current therapies focus on managing blood sugar levels through insulin supplementation or medications that stimulate insulin production. However, these treatments do not address the underlying cause of diabetes, which is the loss of beta cells. By regenerating beta cells, therapies that target this combination could offer a potential cure or long-term remission for diabetes patients.
Further research is necessary to translate these findings into human trials and develop effective treatments. However, the current study raises hope for the possibility of regenerative therapies as a transformative approach to diabetes management.
Jon Napitupulu is Director of Media Relations at The Clinical Trial Vanguard. Jon, a computer data scientist, focuses on the latest clinical trial industry news and trends.
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