Diabetes fight breakthrough
Published: March 17, 2006
Researchers at the University of Calgary have made a breakthrough by growing much-needed insulin-producing cells, which could help cure patients suffering from the worst strain of diabetes.
Scientists at the school’s Pharmaceutical Production Research Facility have been able to replicate cells that mirror the insulin-generating islets that grow in the pancreas.
Those suffering from Type 1 diabetes lack those cells and produce little or no insulin naturally.
Insulin is a hormone used by the body to break down glucose from food and use it to produce and store energy for cells.
Dr. Leo Behie, a U of C professor who heads the bioengineering research team, said while there are procedures in place to transplant islets from cadavers into living patients, in a process called the Edmonton Protocol, the supply is limited.
“The problem is there’s not enough cells and this is where bioengineering comes in,” Behie said.
“We’ve managed to expand and grow beta cells which produce insulin.”
Currently, only 0.2% of Canadians with Type 1 diabetes are able to receive islet cell transplants because of the shortage. In most cases, three donor cadavers are required to get the material needed for the transplant.
More than two-million Canadians suffer from diabetes, including 130,000 in Alberta alone.
Behie said the University team hopes to soon begin clinical trials of the replicated pancreatic cells on animals before using the cells in humans.
“We’re determined we’ll do something in five years and that’ll be major,” Behie said.
Jason Turner, 34, is a Type 1 diabetes sufferer who underwent the Ed-monton Protocol last July.
He was the 79th recipient of the procedure, which has helped him return to a normal life after he was diagnosed with the disease as an 11-year-old.
“It has changed my life completely,” Turner said. “For me, it was about having stable blood sugars.”
He said the work being done by U of C researchers could help bring peace of mind to patients, as he had to wait 10 months to undergo the procedure after donor cells became available.
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