Stem-cell breakthrough in diabetes treatment

Thanks to revolutionary research into stem cells, scientists at Edinburgh University have revealed that they are a step closer to a cure for diabetes.

They have developed stem cells which are able to reproduce and develop into the cell variety associated with the gut—such as liver or pancreatic cells—known as endodermal cells.

The team have managed to avoid the traditional drawbacks of using embryonic stem cells. Previous techniques can lead to a mixture of cells being created. The mixture can contain stem cells that upon implantation can lead to tumours forming.

In a major breakthrough, the cells that have been created by the Edinburgh scientists can constantly renew themselves in the lab, removing the need for the harvesting of more cells from embryos and so maintaining uniform cell cultures.

The team claim that the cell could be injected into diabetics, potentially ending their dependency on insulin injections.

Dr Josh Brickman, of the University of Edinburgh's Institute for Stem Cell Research and MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, said: "For the first time, we have found a way to generate and purify precursors of liver and pancreatic cells. We did this by recreating the path of cell development in embryos to a point where we could identify and purify these cells. Remarkably they can grow in a dish, providing a renewable source for future applications in medicine."

The findings of the study, funded by the BBSRC, Scottish Funding Council and JDRF, carried out in collaboration with the MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, Oxford, were published in the journal Cell Stem Cell.