Recent study published in the July issue of The Journal Laboratory Investigation reveals that Stem cell like cells could be formed In Vitro from the insulin producing cells.

The study was done by Dr Rosenberg form the McGill University Health Center (MUHC) and McGill University together. They organized a study, using β-cells (beta cells) that produces insulin.

They wanted to see whether the cells have the ability to return to more primitive state (stem like cells) or not. They were surprised to see that they have that ability. This process of returning to the more primitive state is called as “Dedifferentiation“.

These cells along with islets cells of Langerhans produces insulin and other hormones in the pancreas.

Thus concluding that by dediferentiating the beta cells in the pancreas, new functional insulin producing cells can be regrown which will help the pancreas to produce more insulin in diabetic patients.

It is believed, this step is a major leap in an extensive regenerative therapies research program based on a peptide called Islet Neogenesis Associated Protein, or (INGAP).

Recently INGAP has demonstrated in a clinical trial that it is possible to regrow new functional insulin producing cells in diabetic patients.

Source: www.sciencedaily.com