Sperm-Producing Cells Coaxed to Produce Insulin
(HealthDay): "HealthDay - SUNDAY, Dec. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have been able to
prod human cells that normally produce sperm to make insulin instead and,
after transplanting them, the cells briefly cured mice with type 1
diabetes."
Once the cells were coaxed into becoming insulin-producing cells, the researchers transplanted them into the mice.
The goal is to coax these cells into making enough insulin to cure diabetes. These cells don't secrete enough insulin to cure diabetes in humans yet.
A benefit of the technique developed by Gallicano and his team is that the cells are coming from the same person they'll be transplanted in, so the body won't see the cells as foreign.
The only side effect of concern, said Gallicano, is a certain type of tumor called a teratoma. But, he said, it appears with these cells it would take significantly more transplanted cells than would likely be needed before such a tumor might potentially be created.
