Scientists in Sweden have developed a more reliable way to create insulin-producing cells from human stem cells, giving new momentum to efforts to treat type 1 diabetes. This study stem cell reportshowing that these lab-grown cells can effectively control blood sugar and even reverse diabetes in mice in tests.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Without insulin, the body cannot properly absorb glucose from the bloodstream, leading to dangerous blood sugar levels. Replacing these lost cells has long been considered a promising solution, but previous attempts to grow cells from stem cells have yielded inconsistent results.
“We have developed a method to reliably produce high-quality insulin-producing cells from multiple human stem cell lines. This opens opportunities for future patient-specific cell therapies and may reduce immune rejection,” said Per-Olof Berggren, Professor of Molecular Medicine and Surgery at Karolinska Institutet and corresponding author along with Siqin Wu, researcher at Spiber Technologies AB (formerly Karolinska Institutet).
More mature and functional insulin cells
The new approach improves the way these cells are generated, resulting in insulin-producing cells that are more sophisticated and more functional than those made with previous techniques. In laboratory experiments, the cells released insulin and had a strong response to glucose levels.
When the cells were transplanted into diabetic mice, the animals’ ability to regulate blood sugar gradually returned. The researchers placed the cells in the anterior chamber of the eye so they could observe how they develop and function over time.
“This is a technique we use to monitor cell development and function over time with minimal invasiveness,” explains Per-Olof Berggren. “After transplantation, we observed that the cells gradually matured and maintained their ability to regulate blood sugar levels for several months. This shows potential as a future treatment.”
Overcoming long-standing challenges
Stem cell therapies for type 1 diabetes are already being tested in clinical trials, but they face several hurdles. One big problem is that stem cells often become a mixture of useful and unwanted cell types, which can increase risks. Another challenge is that insulin cells grown in the lab are often not mature enough to respond effectively to glucose.
To address these issues, the researchers improved the culture process to allow cells to form natural three-dimensional clusters. This step reduced the number of unwanted cell types and increased the responsiveness of the cells to glucose.
“This could solve some of the problems that have so far hindered the development of stem cell-based treatments for type 1 diabetes. On this basis, we will work on clinical applications aimed at the treatment of type 1 diabetes,” said Fredrik Ranner, professor at the Department of Clinical Sciences, Interventions and Technology at Karolinska Institutet and last author of the paper.
For future diabetes treatment
The research is a collaboration between Karolinska Institutet and Sweden’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Funding came from several organizations, including the Swedish Research Council, STINT, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Grant, the Erling Persson Family Foundation, the Jonas and Kristina af Jochnik Foundation, the Swedish Diabetes Association, and the Diabetes Strategic Research Program of Vinnova and Karolinska Institutet. Some researchers report connections to companies, including patent applications and employment at Spiber Technologies AB and Biocrine AB (see publication for details).
