by Playfuls Staff |
4th April 2007
A U.S. study showing damaged pancreatic cells can regenerate into healthy cells has implications for diabetes and [more] other pancreatic disorders.
Replacing faulty or missing cells with new insulin-making cells has been the object of diabetes research for the last decade. Past studies in tissue culture suggested one type of pancreas cell could be coaxed to transform into insulin-producing islet cells.
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine researchers have demonstrated such pancreatic acinar cells do not become insulin-producing cells in an animal model. However, the scientists showed that injured pancreatic cells readily regenerate back into healthy acinar cells, which has implications for treating cancer and inflammation of the pancreas.
The research, which also holds promise for new techniques in pancreas cell manipulation, appears in the April issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
© 2007 UPI
