A new study identifies four subtypes of human insulin producing beta cells involved in diabetes -
A new study by the eminent scientist nationwide stem cell Markus Grompe, MD, has determined the existence of at least four distinct subtypes of beta human insulin-producing cells that may be important in understanding and treating diabetes. The results were published online today in the journal Nature Communications .
"This study is the first description of several different types of human insulin-producing beta cells," said Grompe, principal investigator, director of the Oregon Stem Cell Center at OHSU and the Pediatric Research Institute Pape family at OHSU Doernbecher children's Hospital. "Some of the cells are better at releasing insulin than others, while others can regenerate faster. Therefore, it is possible that persons with different percentages of subtypes are more prone to diabetes . a better understanding of the characteristics of the cells could be the key to discovering new treatment options, as well as why some people are diabetics and others are not. "
diabetes affects more 29 million people in the United States. It is caused by the malfunction or loss of beta cells producing insulin, which help the body to achieve sugar levels in normal blood. Previously, a single variety of beta cells is known to exist. However, using human pancreatic islets, or clusters of cells until 4000, Grompe and colleagues have discovered a process to identify and isolate four distinct types of beta cells. They also found that hundreds of genes were differentially expressed between subtypes of cells and produce different amounts of insulin. All type 2 diabetes have abnormal percentages subtypes, suggesting a possible role in the disease process
Further research is needed to determine how the different forms of diabetes -. And other diseases - affects new subtypes of cells and how researchers can take advantage of these differences for medical treatment.
"This study is the first description of several different types of human insulin-producing beta cells," said Grompe, principal investigator, director of the Oregon Stem Cell Center at OHSU and the Pediatric Research Institute Pape family at OHSU Doernbecher children's Hospital. "Some of the cells are better at releasing insulin than others, while others can regenerate faster. Therefore, it is possible that persons with different percentages of subtypes are more prone to diabetes . a better understanding of the characteristics of the cells could be the key to discovering new treatment options, as well as why some people are diabetics and others are not. "
diabetes affects more 29 million people in the United States. It is caused by the malfunction or loss of beta cells producing insulin, which help the body to achieve sugar levels in normal blood. Previously, a single variety of beta cells is known to exist. However, using human pancreatic islets, or clusters of cells until 4000, Grompe and colleagues have discovered a process to identify and isolate four distinct types of beta cells. They also found that hundreds of genes were differentially expressed between subtypes of cells and produce different amounts of insulin. All type 2 diabetes have abnormal percentages subtypes, suggesting a possible role in the disease process
Further research is needed to determine how the different forms of diabetes -. And other diseases - affects new subtypes of cells and how researchers can take advantage of these differences for medical treatment.
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