Posted by Scott R. King on February 28, 2000 at 19:13:23:
In Reply to: U.S. team reversed mouse diabetes with stem cells posted by Sandy Donchess on February 28, 2000 at 16:08:12:
I am not sure what about this research makes it exciting.
We have known for at least 10 years that in newly diagnosed humans with diabetes there is differentiation of pancreatic ductal epithelium into new islets. We also know that, at the point when these new islets start make insulin, they are attacked and destroyed by the cells that destroyed the original islets. This is also true of islets transplanted from a nondiabetic to diabetic identical twin.
There is no mention of any immunomodulation of these new isets.
Therefore I would say with a high degree of confidence that, in the absence of immune supprssion, such cultured cells would be rapidly destroyed in people with diabetes.
Scott R. King