Exciting Discovery in Type 1 Diabetes Research

Understanding Type 1 Diabetes

Researchers at Helmholtz Zentrum München, the German Research Center for Environmental Health, have made a significant breakthrough that may aid in the treatment of type 1 diabetes. This chronic condition arises when the immune system attacks pancreatic cells, leading to minimal or no insulin production.

Focus of Recent Research

The primary goal of the recent study was to develop replacement therapies that can generate insulin-producing beta cells from human stem cells. A critical aspect of this research was identifying the signals that influence the fate of these stem cells within the pancreas.

Key Findings on Stem Cell Behavior

The study revealed that stem cells exhibit remarkable mobility and are influenced by their environment. Professor Henrik Semb, Director of the Institute of Translational Stem Cell Research at Helmholtz Zentrum München, stated, “We have now been able to map the signal that determines whether pancreatic progenitor cells will become endocrine, such as insulin-producing beta cells, or duct cells.”

Influence of the Extracellular Matrix

Progenitor cells, similar to stem cells, have the ability to renew and differentiate into mature cell types. However, their renewal potential is somewhat limited, making their study complex. To address this challenge, researchers positioned human stem cell-derived progenitors on glass slides coated with various matrix proteins arranged in specific patterns. This allowed them to observe the progenitors’ responses to their immediate environment without interference from surrounding cells.

Discoveries on Mechanical Forces

The study uncovered that different interactions with the extracellular matrix can alter the mechanical force state within progenitor cells. These forces are a result of the interplay between the extracellular matrix outside the cell and the actin cytoskeleton inside the cell. Professor Semb explained, “The experiments show that exposure to the extracellular matrix laminin instructs the progenitor cells towards an endocrine fate by reducing mechanical forces within the cells. Conversely, exposure to fibronectin results in a duct fate due to increased mechanical forces.”

Types of Pancreatic Cells

Endocrine cells in the pancreas, such as insulin-producing beta cells and glucagon-producing alpha cells, reside in the islets of Langerhans. In contrast, duct cells are epithelial cells that line the pancreatic ducts.

Implications for Future Therapies

“This discovery breaks new ground because it explains how multipotent progenitor cells mature into different cell types during organ formation,” Semb remarked. “It also gives us the tools to recreate the processes in the laboratory to more precisely engineer cells that are lost or damaged in severe diseases, such as type 1 diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases, for future cell replacement therapies.”

This advancement suggests that insulin-producing beta cells can be produced cost-effectively from human pluripotent stem cells, paving the way for innovative treatments for diabetes in the near future.

References

Mamidi, A et al. 2018. Mechanosignalling via integrins directs fate decisions of pancreatic progenitors. [Online]. [3 January 2019]. Available from: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0762-2
Eurekalert. 2018. Next step towards replacement therapy in type 1 diabetes. [Online]. [3 January 2019]. Available from: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/hzm–nst112718.php