Pure Insulin-Producing Cells Produced in Mice

piggy submitted, created time 16 hours 8 minutes (www.sciencedaily.com)

Singapore researchers have developed an unlimited number of pure insulin-producing cells from mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs).

These pure insulin-producing cells, which according to electron microscopy studies, have the same sub-cellular structures as the insulin-producing cells naturally found in the pancreas, were highly effective in treating diabetes in the mouse model.

The transplants of pure insulin-producing cells reduced the blood glucose levels of diabetic mice with high blood glucose levels

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They're calling it "biological alchemy": induced stem cells proliferate

sea-maid submitted, created time 4 months 2 weeks (www.newscientist.com)

CALL it biological alchemy: specialist pancreatic cells that secrete digestive enzymes have been converted directly into insulin-producing beta cells. Meanwhile, epithelial cells from the back of the eye have been coaxed into becoming a versatile, new type of stem cell.

Both advances, reported last week in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the annual meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), may take us closer to a "regenerative" approach to repairing damaged tissue

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Cell regeneration brings hope for diabetics

jane2007 submitted, created time 9 months 3 weeks (www.nature.com)

Some cells in the adult pancreas can, in times of extreme stress, produce new insulin-secreting cells, researchers have found. The findings, based on work performed in mice, open up a new approach to replacing insulin-secreting cells in patients with diabetes.

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Hurt an Organ, Help a Disease?

Eric wu submitted, created time 9 months 4 weeks (sciencenow.sciencemag.org)

Researchers report that by injuring an animal's pancreas, they have found a population of cells that naturally become insulin-producers. It's not clear whether the find will impact diabetes patients, but researchers are intrigued by the discovery and what it might reveal about the transformative ability of pancreatic cells.

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The Long Road to Beta Cells

Insulin Secretion Aided By Message From Fat Cells

june submitted, created time 1 year 1 week (www.medicalnewstoday.com)

In a study using laboratory mice, published in the November 7, 2007 issue of Cell Metabolism, scientists at the School of Medicine report that fat cells release a protein that aids insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells, which are the sole source of insulin. The protein is an enzyme that the pancreatic cells themselves produce in only minimal amounts. The enzyme works to enhance glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells.

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Influence of gestational diabetes on the long-term control of glucose tolerance

yangjane submitted, created time 1 year 2 weeks (www.springerlink.com)

Even in women who maintain normal insulin sensitivity, impaired beta cell function is carried over into the NGT status several years after a GDM pregnancy.

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