Insulin-producing pancreatic cells created from stomach stem cells 

Insulin-secreting organoids created from human stomach stem cells have been developed, illuminating a potential novel approach for diabetes treatment.

Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, focused on using stem cells from the human stomach to develop organoids capable of producing insulin, a vital hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. The team aimed to overcome the limitations of existing diabetes treatments, such as daily insulin injections and constant glucose monitoring. Their objective was to find a sustainable and long-term solution by harnessing the regenerative capabilities of stomach stem cells.

'This is a proof-of-concept study that gives us a solid foundation for developing a treatment, based on patients' own cells, for type 1 diabetes and severe type 2 diabetes,' said Dr Joe Zhou, senior study author and associate professor of regenerative medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine.

Publishing their results in Nature, the researchers successfully reprogrammed human stomach cells, known as gastric stem cells, into insulin-secreting organoids, which displayed promising functionality. These organoids mimicked the behaviour of healthy pancreatic cells, effectively sensing blood sugar levels and secreting insulin accordingly. Through extensive experimentation and optimisation, the team achieved high levels of efficiency and accuracy in regulating glucose.

The study was conducted in mice, where the researchers showed that gastric stem cells could be used by activating three transcription factors, which are proteins that control gene expression. Once transplanted into the mice, the organoids successfully secreted insulin in response to rises in glucose. These stem cells can be removed relatively easily from patients when an endoscopy is performed.

Dr Zhou further said, 'The stomach makes its hormone-secreting cells, and stomach cells and pancreatic cells are adjacent in the embryonic stage of development, so in that sense, it isn't completely surprising that gastric stem cells can be so readily transformed into beta-like insulin-secreting cells'.

The creation of insulin-secreting organoids presents an alternative approach to traditional diabetes treatments. If translated into clinical practice, it could potentially simplify blood sugar management for the millions who rely on insulin injections. There is also the potential benefit of developing transplantable cells that are genetically identical to the recipient, which could potentially reduce the risk of rejection. It is unclear however, how long these cells would last in diabetic humans, as type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease characterised by destruction of insulin secreting cells.

Further research and clinical trials are necessary to assess the safety and effectiveness of stomach-derived insulin-secreting organoids.