A new research center in Leiden, Netherlands, is set to open in november to advance stem cell therapies for type 1 diabetes, offering hope for a potential cure. The center, named Cure One, will focus on using stem cells to grow insulin-producing islet cells, potentially eliminating the need for donor organs.

Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune condition, results in the destruction of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Insulin is essential for regulating blood sugar levels, and without it, patients must rely on insulin injections or pumps to survive.

Historically, treatment options were limited to whole pancreas transplants or islet cell transplantation from deceased donors. The latter, known as “islet transplantation,” has shown success, as highlighted by patient Anton Schaddelee, who reports a full life after receiving such a transplant.

Moast heaviest form of diabetes controlled Anton’s life to this new treatment

While pancreas or islet transplantation can lead to a complete cure or, at minimum, stabilize blood sugar levels with medication, a shortage of donor organs limits these interventions to a small patient population. The new research offers a potential solution to this scarcity.

Stem Cell-Derived Islet cells

“The real breakthrough is that islands made from stem cells in a laboratory can be functionally cure diabetes.”

The innovative approach involves growing islet cells in the laboratory from pluripotent stem cells, which can differentiate into any cell type in the body. Clinical trials have demonstrated that a important number of participants with severe type 1 diabetes experienced remission one year after receiving an infusion of these lab-grown cells.

“The real breakthrough is that islands made from stem cells in a laboratory can be functionally cure diabetes,” says Eelco de Koning, doctor and professor of diabetology at Leiden UMC. “This indicates that an unlimited amount of islands can be available for treatment in the future.”

Further research is necessary to validate these findings before the treatment can be integrated into standard medical care. the Cure One center will play a crucial role in this process, consolidating research efforts on stem cells and the immune system to accelerate the growth of effective therapies.

Overcoming Immune Rejection

A primary objective of the research center is to make this treatment accessible to all type 1 diabetes patients. currently, recipients of donor organs or stem cell-derived islets require lifelong immunosuppressant medication to prevent rejection, increasing the risk of infections and othre complications.

“At the moment recipients of deceased donors, or of islands from stem cells such as in the published study, must use anti -inflammatory medication for the rest of their lives to prevent their bodies from repeling the cells,” says De Koning.

The challenge lies in modifying the stem cells and the immune system to prevent rejection of the new islet cells.One potential strategy involves creating stem cells from the patient’s own cells to grow “own” islets, thereby minimizing the risk of immune response.

“The challenge is to discover how we can adjust the stem cells and the immune system in such a way that the immune system leaves the new islands alone,” the King explains. “That could also be done by first making stem cells of people with type 1 diabetes themselves, and by growing ‘own’ islands from them. Thanks to the concentration of all expertise in Cure One, we will do everything we can to have that next breakthrough follow quickly.”