Thursday, November 16, 2017

Scientists reverse diabetes in a mouse model using modified blood stem cells

Researches at Boston Children's Hospital have found a way to reverse Type I diabetes in a mouse model. By profiling the transcriptome of blood stem cells and using a gene expression microarray, they found that microRNAs play a crucial roll in controlling the production of protein PD-L1. This protein binds to inflammatory T-cells to cause an autoimmune reaction. Type I diabetes prevents the production of PD-L1, leaving the immune system of affected individuals unable to fight off the disease. In this experiment, researchers utilized stem cells to introduce a healthy gene for PD-L1. They treated the mice with a cocktail of inferferon beta, interferon gamma, and polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid to stimulate the production of PD-L1. With this treatment, the mice were cured of diabetes in the short term and a third of the mice maintained normal blood sugar levels.
Since there is no current cure to treat Type I diabetes, this is an amazing finding that can be used in further research to combat the autoimmune disease. The research conducted showed a lack of adverse effects from the stem cell therapy, so a clinical trial should be conducted to test the efficacy of the novel treatment on humans. This disease is difficult to live with for those affected and can almost be life-threatening if not monitored properly. Reversing the disease in mice using cell therapy is a breakthrough that brings researchers one step closer to finding a cure.
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/11/171115144126.htm
http://stm.sciencemag.org/content/9/416/eaam7543

5 comments:

  1. Wow! This is amazing, if scientists can reverse Type I diabetes in mice it could be only a matter of time before they reverse it in humans which would be life-changing to so many.

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  2. This article really made me happy:) If the scientists were able to cure Type I diabetes in mice, I have faith that a way to cure humans from the disease is not far away. Everyone will agree that having any type of disorder or illness is uncomfortable; however, those with Type I diabetes "live" the disease and battle with it every hour of every day.

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  3. Since mice are such good model organisms, it will not be long before the cure for diabetes in humans comes along. This discovery is very good to hear as we are finally making progress towards finding a cure. Sometimes, our research pays off more than we might expect.

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  4. Everyone knows that mice are often the starting point for ground breaking medical discoveries, this is such a great find! If the research showed a reversal of the disease in mice, we can only hope it will be used on humans in the near future! I did a blog post on diabetes health effects being lessened through broccoli a few weeks ago. At this rate, diabetes should be a thing of the past in no time!

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  5. It is amazing that diabetes research has made this step. Curing one mice may not seem like much to some people, but it can have very important effects in the lives of so many people living with Type I diabetes. If scientists can cure mice, they will soon be able to find a cure for humans!

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