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The Regrowth of Beta Cells

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As beta cells function to store and release insulin-the key point of finding an effective therapy for diabetes diseases, scientists bared their effort in how to generate the regrowth of these cells. Recently through-breaking progress in this direction has made. Scientists from Joslin Diabetes Center discovered a method to improve the growth of beta cells, and raw material for the production is within the body, which will eliminate many thorn issues commonly faced with in cells regeneration.

The connected substance that contributes to the increase of beta cells is a protein called SerpinB1 produced in liver. It works to boost the production of beta cells when insulin level is supposed to increase by the body environment. The team originally found this mechanism on mice that were genetically modified and got insulin resistance, as a result of which, the level of the protein was increased obviously in blood and beta cells were produced at a higher level. The change successfully attract the attention of the researchers, and a serial studies were conducted to probe more about the mechanism, as well as the correlation between serpinB1 and beta cells.

Later the researchers found that the rule went for people who were prone to develop type 2 diabetes by the presentation of a higher level of serpinB1 protein in their bloodstream when the insulin resistance condition appeared and became serious gradually. With later experiments on other two species, the scientific team confirmed the finding.

At gene level, the team discovered a more active change on genes in charge of insulin production on the mice that were genetically modified and with obstacle to produce insulin compared with the healthy ones.

They also used the natural source of serpinB1 to test the mechanism, same result showed. Then synthetic serpinB1 protein was applied in cell culture dishes, an increasing of beta cells was presented as the result, showing potential to the later drug discovery stage for the practical application of the mechanism.

In addition, another species was tested to see if it also goes for the rule, and zebrafish was chose. The result went the same though applied in totally different creature type. Now the research team is still working on the topic but turns to diabetes patients as the target with aim of further understanding and transforming the discovery into practical therapy for diabetes.

Once serpinB1 protein is proved as a save trigger for beta cells, the treatment for the disease will be more effective and maybe cheaper depending on the safety and cost of the synthetic version of serpinB1.

Author Bio

Creative Bioarray is a biotechnological company providing a wide range of high quality normal human and animal cells, human tissue banks, FISH probes, tissue array, microorganisms, equipments and related biotechnological services for the research community.