Written By: Mika Lai & Esha Bhatia
introduction
In this paper, we propose an alternative to both of these treatments: utilizing stem cells to increase insulin through stem cell proliferation to β cells within the pancreas. If the β cells are increased, the patient would maintain healthy blood sugar levels due to increased insulin. This research poster will investigate the current advancements that has been made within medicine providing the potential for regenerating pancreatic function in diabetic patients
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the insulin-making cells of the pancreas. It is estimated that about 1.25 million Americans are diagnosed with Diabetes. Currently many Type 1(T1) Diabetes patients suffer through insulin therapy, which has been proven to be insufficient. The best course of action for many T1 diabetes patients is to get a pancreas transplant, resulting in many patients being unable to get off the waiting list. The innovative use of stem cells to generate insulin-producing pancreatic cells presents a groundbreaking solution for effectively managing and potentially curing diabetes.
methods
Shinya Yamanaka's researched adult somatic cells can be reprogrammed into an embryonic-like pluripotent state by delivering transcription factors. His research led to the creation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) in which these cells are developed through cellular reprogramming. This reprogramming involves introducing a specific set of transcription factors into the adult cells, which resets their developmental program back to a pluripotent state, similar to that of embryonic stem cells (ESCs). hiPSC are also preferred ethically because hiPSCs are generated from adult cells through cellular reprogramming techniques. This process does not involve the destruction of embryos, unlike the derivation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs), which has raised ethical concerns.
results
Somatic cell nucleus transfer cloning includes taking the nucleus from a somatic cell from the desired organ of a patient and fusing it with an egg cell that with no nucleus. Once fused, a new cell forms and splits to become an embryo. This becomes a blastocyst containing an inner cell mass which is totipotent, capable of differentiating into any cell type.
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can regenerate a diabetic pancreas by becoming insulin-producing β cells. These cells are treated in the lab to produce and release insulin, regulating blood sugar levels naturally. This method could provide a long-term solution for diabetes, but challenges like immune rejection and cell safety need to be managed through research and clinical trials.
Induced pluripotent stem cells(HiPSC) can be obtained by reprogramming human somatic cells to achieve pluripotency. Another strategy is obtaining multipotent stem cells from the adult pancreas for pancreatic regeneration in diabetic patients. Through isolating and expanding these stem cells, they can be amenable and differentiate into β cells, however results remain controversial.
The model of somatic cell nucleus transfer cloning in homosapiens. Cloning using somatic cells begins by removing the chromosomes from one cell to make another cell that’s deficient of a nucleus. Next, the missing nucleus and other chromosomes are replaced by a nucleus taken from a somatic cell of the patient. The cloned cell is then stimulated so that it begins to split/divide. Once this happens, a blastocyst(or pre implanted embryo) is formed and it can be stimulated once again to differentiate into the desired organ(National Library of Medicine).
limitations
Induced pluripotent stem cells can form a teratoma or tumor because stem cells in tissues can gather mutations, leading to uncontrolled growth and forming tumors. These can be either benign or malignant, and if malignant could cause serious problems for an individual.
conclusion
Through induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) by reprogramming human somatic cells to achieve pluripotency, which are capable of giving rise to most cell types, within the pancreas, the stem cells are able to give rise to β-cells to produce increased insulin. This alleviates the problems experienced in diabetic patients. This can also be a preferred method as it eliminates the ethical question of using stem cells or tissues from human embryos, making it more acceptable.
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