Insulin-producing liver cells

Insulin-producing liver cells

Insulin-producing liver cells

Insulin-producing liver cells

Scientists at the University of Bath have succeeded in converting liver cells into cells that produce insulin, a breakthrough which could be the first step towards a possible cure for Type 1 diabetes. The team used an approach called transdifferentiation, which involves converting one type of cell to another.

Researchers carried out two series of tests, one using human cells and the other on tadpoles of an African clawed frog, which has a similar liver and pancreas to that in mammals. When a special gene was added to human liver cells grown in bottles, some of them produced insulin. Diabetes UK is funding similar research throughout the UK and we’re hoping to see some good results in the next few years.

Insulin-producing liver cells 

Eleanor Kennedy, Diabetes UK Research Manager said "This research is potentially exciting as it is the first step towards what could be a cure for Type 1 diabetes. It follows previous work on the subject where researchers have tried to turn other cells in the body into insulin-producing cells. However, much more research needs to be done into the subject, to establish whether this would work in the human body and to look at how, when and how much insulin would be released using this process. We look forward to seeing the results of any further research into the subject."

Another a potential cure for Type 1 diabetes involves islet cell transplantation, research into which is also progressing well.