Uploaded May 2019 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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Lydia Parkhurst's story: lyfebulb.com/2017/02/20/diagnosis-type-1-diabetes
Diabetes affects over 336 Million people worldwide. Depending on the underlying causes of the disease we can distinguish between different classes of diabetes: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, monogenic diabetes and cystic fibrosis diabetes. Although the underlying causes of these diseases might be different, they share common symptoms such as excessive hunger and thirst, blurred vision, a sweat breath oder, numbness in hands or feed or fatigue.
These symptoms directly or undirectly arise from issues in the insulin pathway: insulin is normally released by beta cells in the pancreas if blood glucose levels are too high. In this manner, different body responses are provoked such as an increased glucose uptake or decreased gluconeogenesis. In diabetes patients, beta cells might be destroyed or the body might have become resistant against insulin.
Common types of diabetes are provoked by both genetic and environmental factors. Twin studies have, for instance, revealed that there is a nearly 100% chance for a monozygotic twin to suffer from diabetes if the other twin has the disease.
In order to cure type 1 diabetes, we can try to restore the insulin secretion by using stem cells. Stem cells are special types of cells, which can divide and differentiate in an unlimited manner. Differentiation means that a stem cell can become different cell types (such as muscle cells or skin cells). Over the last years, we have developed various techniques in the laboratory to produce and differentiate stem cells in a controlled manner. This means, that we can, for instance, produce beta cells using stem cells, and transplant them type 1 diabetes patients, in order to restore insulin secretion. In 2008, embryonic stem cells were differentiated into insulin-secreting cells, which were then transplanted into diabetic mice. As a consequence, blood glucose levels improved significantly.
In order to avoid the rejection of the transplanted cells by immune cells of the recipient or other immune reactions, Viacyte, a californian company developed a device in which transplanted cells are protected. Results from this phase 1, 2 clinical trial have not been released yet. There are also other challenges we need to overcome such as the possibility of teratomas development or ethical issues.
For your further research:
Kroon, E., Martinson, L. A., Kadoya, K., Bang, A. G., Kelly, O. G., Eliazer, S., ... & Agulnick, A. D. (2008). Pancreatic endoderm derived from human embryonic stem cells generates glucose-responsive insulin-secreting cells in vivo. Nature biotechnology, 26(4), 443.
Schulz, T. C. (2015). Concise review: manufacturing of pancreatic endoderm cells for clinical trials in type 1 diabetes. Stem cells translational medicine, 4(8), 927-931.
Van Belle, T. L., Coppieters, K. T., & Von Herrath, M. G. (2011). Type 1 diabetes: etiology, immunology, and therapeutic strategies. Physiological reviews, 91(1), 79-118.
viacyte.com
Music:
Intro:
Light Sting by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com
Transitions:
Light Thought var 3 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: incompetech.com
About Clemens Steinek:
CLEMENS STEINEK is a postgraduate student/youtuber (LifeLabLearner) who is currently conducting stem cell research in Germany.
Subscribe for more awesome biomedical research: bit.ly/2SRMqhC
Lydia Parkhurst's story: lyfebulb.com/2017/02/20/diagnosis-type-1-diabetes
Diabetes affects over 336 Million people worldwide. Depending on the underlying causes of the disease we can distinguish between different classes of diabetes: type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, monogenic diabetes and cystic fibrosis diabetes. Although the underlying causes of these diseases might be different, they share common symptoms such as excessive hunger and thirst, blurred vision, a sweat breath oder, numbness in hands or feed or fatigue.
These symptoms directly or undirectly arise from issues in the insulin pathway: insulin is normally released by beta cells in the pancreas if blood glucose levels are too high. In this manner, different body responses are provoked such as an increased glucose uptake or decreased gluconeogenesis. In diabetes patients, beta cells might be destroyed or the body might have become resistant against insulin.
Common types of diabetes are provoked by both genetic and environmental factors. Twin studies have, for instance, revealed that there is a nearly 100% chance for a monozygotic twin to suffer from diabetes if the other twin has the disease.
In order to cure type 1 diabetes, we can try to restore the insulin secretion by using stem cells. Stem cells are special types of cells, which can divide and differentiate in an unlimited manner. Differentiation means that a stem cell can become different cell types (such as muscle cells or skin cells). Over the last years, we have developed various techniques in the laboratory to produce and differentiate stem cells in a controlled manner. This means, that we can, for instance, produce beta cells using stem cells, and transplant them type 1 diabetes patients, in order to restore insulin secretion. In 2008, embryonic stem cells were differentiated into insulin-secreting cells, which were then transplanted into diabetic mice. As a consequence, blood glucose levels improved significantly.
In order to avoid the rejection of the transplanted cells by immune cells of the recipient or other immune reactions, Viacyte, a californian company developed a device in which transplanted cells are protected. Results from this phase 1, 2 clinical trial have not been released yet. There are also other challenges we need to overcome such as the possibility of teratomas development or ethical issues.
For your further research:
Kroon, E., Martinson, L. A., Kadoya, K., Bang, A. G., Kelly, O. G., Eliazer, S., ... & Agulnick, A. D. (2008). Pancreatic endoderm derived from human embryonic stem cells generates glucose-responsive insulin-secreting cells in vivo. Nature biotechnology, 26(4), 443.
Schulz, T. C. (2015). Concise review: manufacturing of pancreatic endoderm cells for clinical trials in type 1 diabetes. Stem cells translational medicine, 4(8), 927-931.
Van Belle, T. L., Coppieters, K. T., & Von Herrath, M. G. (2011). Type 1 diabetes: etiology, immunology, and therapeutic strategies. Physiological reviews, 91(1), 79-118.
viacyte.com
Music:
Intro:
Light Sting by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com
Transitions:
Light Thought var 3 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: incompetech.com
About Clemens Steinek:
CLEMENS STEINEK is a postgraduate student/youtuber (LifeLabLearner) who is currently conducting stem cell research in Germany.
