Treatment Reverses Type 1 Diabetes in Mouse Model

Animals were treated with anti-CD3 antibody, given transplanted embryonic pancreatic tissue

FRIDAY, July 17 (HealthDay News) -- In a mouse model of type 1 diabetes, treatment with anti-CD3 antibody and transplantation of pancreatic anlagen resulted in restoration of β-cell function and long-term diabetes recovery, according to research published online July 9 in Endocrinology.

Salma Begum, Ph.D., of Columbia University in New York City, and colleagues discuss their work with non-obese-diabetic mice, which spontaneously develop type 1 diabetes. Shortly after disease onset, mice were given anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody for five days, followed by transplantation of embryonic pancreatic tissue, and, for short-term glucose control, implantation of a subcutaneous insulin pellet.

The researchers found that most mice maintained normal blood glucose levels after removal of the insulin pellet several weeks after the transplantation. Use of a green fluorescent protein marker showed that the transplanted cells migrated to the host pancreases, with most of them expressing insulin.

"These studies present a novel treatment paradigm combining the induction of immune tolerance with the restoration of β-cell function by the transplantation of pancreatic precursor cells. Although it is not envisioned that direct transplantation of fetal pancreatic anlagen would be a viable treatment in human type 1 diabetes patients, this study points to the possibility of using pancreatic precursors for therapy," the authors conclude.

Abstract
Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
www.healthday.com