The new advances include a process to induce differentiation of functional beta cells from these stem cells that contain and release insulin in response to elevated glucose levels.
Glucose-regulated insulin secretion is a critical function of beta cells which is lost in type I diabetics due to autoimmune reaction against beta cells. The discovery of novel methods for differentiation of functional beta cells enhances the potential use of the company’s stem cell lines for cell therapy of diabetes.
Type I diabetes mellitus affects about 15 million people worldwide and may be successfully treated by transplantation of beta islet cells. However, there is insufficient supply of transplantable materials to treat the number of afflicted patients and discovery of viable methods to increase the number of available beta islets for transplantation is a major goal of diabetes research.
The company’s stem cell lines and associated differentiation methods represent a potential indefinite supply of human beta cells for use in transplantation into diabetic patients.
“We are pleased to have expanded the capability of our adult beta islet stem cells to include differentiation into functional beta cells that may have potential for transplantation therapy of diabetes,” said Dr Jim Musick, Vitro’s Chairman of the Board and COO.