CRISPR Offers New Hope for Treating Diabetes
9 hours ago
- #Crispr
- #Regenerative Medicine
- #Diabetes
- Crispr gene-editing technology shows potential in treating global diseases like diabetes.
- Researchers successfully implanted Crispr-edited pancreatic cells in a type 1 diabetes patient, enabling insulin production without immunosuppressive drugs.
- The edited cells were 'hypoimmune,' evading the immune system and functioning for months post-implantation.
- The study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, involved altering donor pancreatic cells with Crispr-Cas12b.
- Implanted cells in the patient's forearm showed no rejection after 12 weeks and remained functional for six months.
- The ultimate goal is to apply immune-camouflaging edits to stem cells for long-term insulin production.
- Traditional cell transplants require immunosuppression, posing risks like infections and complications.
- The study's limitations include a single participant and low cell dosage, with independent verification challenges.
- Sana Biotechnology plans more clinical trials, highlighting the promise of immune-evading cell transplants in regenerative medicine.