{"id":84831,"date":"2021-10-25T07:28:14","date_gmt":"2021-10-25T04:28:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.technion.ac.il\/blog\/toward-a-cure-for-diabetes\/"},"modified":"2021-10-25T07:28:14","modified_gmt":"2021-10-25T04:28:14","slug":"toward-a-cure-for-diabetes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.technion.ac.il\/en\/blog\/toward-a-cure-for-diabetes\/","title":{"rendered":"Toward a Cure for Diabetes"},"content":{"rendered":"

A novel approach to treating type 2 diabetes is being developed at the Technion, using an autograft of muscle cells engineered to take in sugar at increased rates.<\/p>\n

The disease, caused by insulin resistance and reduction of cells\u2019 ability to absorb sugar, is characterized by increased blood sugar levels. Its long-term complications include heart disease, strokes, damage to the retina that can result in blindness, kidney failure, and poor blood flow in the limbs that may lead to amputations. It is currently treated by a combination of lifestyle changes, medication, and insulin injections, but ultimately is associated with a 10-year reduction in life expectancy.<\/p>\n

\"Prof.<\/a>
Prof. Shulamit Levenberg<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Led by Professor Shulamit Levenberg, Ph.D. student <\/strong>Rita<\/strong> Beckerman<\/strong> from the Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering Laboratory in the Technion\u2019s Faculty of Biomedical Engineering presents a novel treatment approach, using an autograft of muscle cells engineered to take in sugar at increased rates. Mice treated in this manner displayed normal blood sugar levels for months after a single procedure. The group\u2019s findings were recently published in Science Advances<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"Rita<\/a>
Rita Beckerman<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Muscle cells are among the main targets of insulin, and they are supposed to absorb sugar from the blood. In their study, Prof. Levenberg\u2019s group isolated muscle cells from mice and engineered these cells to present more insulin-activated sugar transporters (GLUT4). These cells were then grown to form an engineered muscle tissue, and finally transported back into the abdomen of diabetic mice. The engineered cells not only proceeded to absorb sugar correctly, improving blood sugar levels, but also induced improved absorption in the mice\u2019s other muscle cells, by means of signals sent between them. After this one treatment, the mice remained cured of diabetes for four months \u2013 the entire period they remained under observation. Their blood sugar levels remained lower, and they had reduced levels of fatty liver normally displayed in type 2 diabetes.<\/p>\n

\u201cBy taking cells from the patient and treating them, we eliminate the risk of rejection,\u201d Prof. Levenberg explained. These cells can easily integrate back into being part of the body and respond to the body\u2019s signaling activity.<\/p>\n

Currently, around 34 million Americans, just over 1 in 10, suffer from diabetes, 90% of them from type 2 diabetes. An effective treatment \u2013 and one that is a one-time treatment rather than daily medication \u2013 could significantly improve both quality of life and life expectancy of those who have diabetes. The same method could also be used to treat various enzyme deficiency disorders.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The implanted construct: the engineered muscle fibers (in red) express the GLUT4 (in green)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This work was funded by Rina and Avner Schneur as part of the Rina and Avner Schneur Center for Diabetes Research. Rita Beckerman is an\u00a0Ariane de Rothschild Women Doctoral Program scholar.<\/em><\/p>\n

Click <\/strong>here<\/strong><\/a> for the paper in <\/strong>Science Advances.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A novel approach to treating type 2 diabetes is being developed at the Technion, using an autograft of muscle cells engineered to take in sugar at increased rates. The disease, caused by insulin resistance and reduction of cells\u2019 ability to absorb sugar, is characterized by increased blood sugar levels. 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