Chinese scientists announce they have developed a cure for diabetes

Researchers worldwide are exploring the potential of islet transplants as an alternative treatment for diabetes, utilizing islet-like cells derived from human stem cell cultures. A Chinese research team, led by Yin Hao at Shanghai Changzheng Hospital, has achieved notable progress in this field after a decade-long effort.

In July 2021, a patient underwent a cell transplant and, within 11 weeks, no longer needed insulin. Within a year, the patient ceased oral medication for blood sugar control. The team converted the patient’s peripheral blood mononuclear cells into “seed cells” to regenerate pancreatic islet tissue.

This breakthrough in regenerative medicine harnesses the body’s innate healing capabilities. However, differentiating stem cells into high-quality insulin-producing cells on a large scale remains a challenge. A study by Kieffer’s team, published in Stem Cell Research & Therapy, outlines crucial parameters for large-scale production of these cells.

While Kieffer’s preclinical data supports the use of stem cell-derived islets for treating type 2 diabetes, Yin’s report represents the first human evidence. Given China has the highest number of diabetic people, validating this approach could offer significant benefits.

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