Researchers have found a way of inducing human beta cells, the insulin-producing cells destroyed by diabetes, thus offering hope of new treatments for the disease.

Nathalie Fiaschi-Taesch, Ph.D., and Todd Bigatel, both of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and colleagues found that human beta cells contain a significant amount of a protein called cdk-6. The researchers then went on to discover that increasing cdk-6 production using a viral vector carrying the cdk-6 gene caused the beta cells to replicate. Further studies showed that it was possible to enhance replication by increasing the production of another molecule called cyclin D1, which is involved in cell cycle control.

Next, the researchers transplanted some of the engineered human beta cells under the outer layer of a kidney in a diabetic mouse. Study results showed that beta cell replication continued and the mouse's blood sugar levels returned to normal levels. Removing the cells from the mouse caused the mouse to immediately become diabetic again.

“This work provides proof-of-principle that the production of human beta cells can be stimulated, and that the newly generated cells function effectively both in the lab and in a living animal,” said senior author Professor Andrew Stewart.

News release: Human beta cells can be easily induced to replicate, according to study in Diabetes. University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences. January 13th 2009.