ADULT STEM CELLS COULD BE USED TO TREAT DIABETES

LONDON, March 17, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Diabetes is the latest in a growing list of diseases that may be on the threshold of being treated with cures derived from adult stem cells, according to a new study. The other diseases include brain damage, multiple sclerosis and sickle cell anaemia.  Researchers at the New York University School of Medicine suggest that adult bone marrow may be converted into insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas to replace those damaged when someone has diabetes. So far, they have found that the cells developed properties associated with the crucial beta cells in mice.  Mehboob Hussain, assistant professor of medicine and pharmacology, says, “I am absolutely excited by the potential applications of our findings. In our body, there is an additional, easily accessible source of cells that are capable of becoming insulin-producing pancreatic endocrine cells. Transplantation of bone marrow stem cells already is a routine procedure for treating cancer and other diseases, and we could build on that experience.”  For BBC News coverage:  https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/2849667.stm   For the Journal of Clinical Investigation (Full-Text Version available):  https://www.jci.org/cgi/content/full/111/6/843