Mouse cells. That's right. They will play an important role in delaying or preventing the onset of type I diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes. I hadn't known before reading this article that type I diabetes is caused by the immune system interfering with insulin production. Seattle researchers say their new treatment may be an important step toward a cure.
The treatment will have to be administered during the first six months of diagnosis, and the treatment is still in trials. The first six months after diagnosis are critical because some of the insulin-producing cells are still functional. Mice antibodies are altered to suit humans, and then injected into patients; the antibodies are also developed to find immune cells that attack insulin production, and to render these immune cells harmless. I know, I said, "Ewww," too. But still, all kidding aside, this is incredibly promising. I can't wait to see what the PETA folks do with this.
The treatment will not be useful to type II diabetes sufferers, because type II diabetes is caused later in life by the pancreas's inability to produce insulin.
