Scientists at Harvard have succeeded in converting cells from a mouse’s pancreas into the insulin-producing beta cells that are destroyed by diabetes.
The group, led by Qiao Zhou and Douglas A Melton, identified three transcription factors that are active in insulin-producing cells. Genes that code for these factors were introduced into exocrine cells, another type of pancreatic cell, via a virus. The cells then appeared to transform into beta cells. As well as looking like beta cells, the cells began producing insulin and stopped producing proteins that are typically made by exocrine cells.
Although the technique, which is called direct reprogramming is still many years away from human testing the breakthrough could revolutionize the treatment of diabetes. The research also suggests that it may well be possible to transform healthy cells into insulin-producing cells without the need for techniques involving controversial stem cells.
Zhou Q, Brown J, Kanarek A, Rajagopal J, Melton DA. In vivo reprogramming of adult pancreatic exocrine cells to beta-cells. Nature. 2008 Aug 27. [Epub ahead of print]
