Groups such as the University of Tokyo have announced that they have succeeded in improving symptoms by artificially increasing pancreatic cells that control blood sugar levels and transplanting them into diabetic mice.

This research was conducted by a group of Professor Yasuhiro Yamada of the Institute of Medical Science, the University of Tokyo.



Insulin, which is necessary for controlling blood sugar level, is produced by pancreatic island cells in the pancreas, but since these cells hardly proliferate, it is difficult to recover once they are lost, which is a problem in diabetes treatment.



The group succeeded in proliferating the pancreatic island cells taken from mice by strongly exerting a gene called "MYCL".



Then, when the proliferated cells were transplanted into diabetic mice, the blood glucose level dropped to near normal levels.



Furthermore, it was confirmed that human pancreatic cells also proliferate in the same way, and the group will lead to the development of new treatment methods such as increasing pancreatic cells and transplanting them to patients with severe diabetes in the future. is.



Professor Yamada says, "Although it is in the experimental stage of mice, I think it is a finding that has the potential to replace the treatment of diabetes. I would like to proceed with research to help patients as soon as possible."