Scientists announced a breakthrough in diabetes treatment
This was reported by the publication Live Science.
The publication states that the man was transplanted with genetically modified cells, after which his body began producing insulin. The genetically edited cells were introduced into the man's forearm. His body left the altered cells alone, and the surviving cells produced insulin in the normal manner. The patient does not need to take immunosuppressive drugs, as the new cells are not perceived as foreign.
"Scientists from Sweden and the United States transplanted pancreatic islet cells from a donor, which were genetically modified using CRISPR technology to suppress rejection by the patient's immune system. This is the first case where this treatment has been tested on humans," the article states.
The publication explains that CRISPR is a universal tool for genome editing and has recently been approved as a gene therapy for treating certain diseases.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the patient's immune system destroys the cells in the pancreas responsible for producing insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. The condition can be managed with insulin injections, but there is no cure for the disease.
Researchers aim to determine whether the cells can survive in the long term, potentially providing a cure for type 1 diabetes. They also plan to conduct further tests to see if this approach works in other patients.
