Cell Reprogramming

Diabetes Type I occurs as a result of destruction of the beta cells in the pancreas.  For some reason, these insulin producing cells are destroyed by the body of the host.  Without these cells, the human body can not produce insulin and blood sugar level can not be regulated.  So Type I diabetic patients take or inject insulin in order to control the blood sugar level.  If there were ways to prevent the self-destruction of the insulin producing cells, or ways to restore them, Type I diabetes will be put under control.

Some Harvard scientists have discovered a way to reprogram cells.  Harvard scientists “were able to turn ordinary mouse exocrine cells of the pancreas into beta cells, vital insulin-producing cells that die off in Type I diabetes patients. “  This basically means that they will be able to cure diabetes and possibly many others, including disease that affect the heart and the nervous system.

This experiement has been successful in a mouse model and has not been proved to be successful in humans.  There still seems to be a long way to go before this treatment method becomes practical for humans, but it is a good start.  Its possibilities may include making heart, nerve tissues and other vital organs from ordinary cells.  For further reading check out this article from The Harvard Crimson.

This article was modified from gumresq’s blog with permission.