- Researchers have developed a method using engineered blood vessel cells (R-VECs) to improve islet transplantation which could offer a safer and more effective treatment for type 1 diabetes.
- In a study, diabetic mice receiving islet transplants with R-VECs maintained normal blood glucose levels for over 20 weeks suggesting potential long-term benefits.
- While further testing is needed, this breakthrough could lead to wider use of islet transplants, reducing the need for immunosuppressive drugs and improving diabetes treatment.
A pioneering study by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine has demonstrated a new method that could transform islet transplantation for people with type 1 diabetes.
By incorporating engineered human blood vessel cells called reprogrammed vascular endothelial cells (R-VECs), the team successfully improved the survival of insulin-producing cells – restoring normal blood sugar levels in a preclinical trial.
Type 1 diabetes – which affects around nine million people globally – occurs when the body’s immune system destroys insulin-producing islet cells in the pancreas.
Islet transplantation has long been explored as a treatment, but the current approach which is injecting islets into the liverhas significant limitations including the need for lifelong immunosuppressive drugs and the gradual loss of transplant effectiveness.
Published in Science Advances, the research presents a new approach that implants islets under the skin instead of in the liver.
The addition of R-VECs enables the transplanted islets to quickly form a stable blood supply, enhancing their survival and function.
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How it works
Islets need a rich network of blood vessels to function properly but traditional transplantation methods do not provide this support. R-VECs, developed from human umbilical vein cells, are engineered to be highly adaptable and durable – helping to form a strong vascular network around the transplanted islets.
In the study, mice receiving islets with R-VECs showed:
- Improved islet survival thanks to better blood supply.
- Normal blood glucose levels maintained for over 20 weeks.
- Increased weight stability indicating restored metabolism.
Mice that received islets without R-VECs fared much worse highlighting the importance of the engineered blood vessel cells.
While these findings are promising, more research is needed before this technique can be used in humans:
- Testing in larger animal models to assess long-term safety and effectiveness.
- Scaling up production of R-VEC-supported islets for transplantation.
- Developing ways to reduce the need for immunosuppressive drugs potentially by using patient-derived or engineered islet cells that avoid immune rejection.
Read the original study here.
