An unexpected transformation

Certain diabetic patients do not have insulin-producing cells (beta cells) in their pancreas. All over the world, scientists are searching for suitable stem cells to act as a substitute. “We were looking for a different approach and wanted to investigate the ability of the pancreas to regenerate in living mice,” says Pedro Herrera, a professor at the University of Geneva. In order to do this, they genetically modified mice so that their beta cells could be destroyed almost at the touch of a button. Insulin therapy kept the animals alive. To the researchers’ surprise, other pancreatic cells (alpha cells) spontaneously transformed themselves into beta cells. “The pancreas regenerated within a few weeks of all the beta cells being destroyed, and all the mice were cured,” says Herrera. The pharmaceutical industry is already showing an interest in this discovery.