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We’re excited to share with you the exciting research and progress being made on beta cell replacement therapies and what that means in our pursuit of a cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D). In our pancreas, we find beta cells: a type of cell located in the pancreatic islets that produce insulin. Unfortunately, in people with T1D, these cells are attacked and often destroyed by the body’s own immune system. Scientists do not know why exactly this misguided attack happens, but recent studies are uncovering promising findings: that beta cells may become stressed before the onset of T1D and potentially trigger it and that we are born with a finite number of beta cells that die off in those with T1D. Some researchers are working on finding the cause of the immune attacks while others are focused on how to protect and replace beta cells. Restoring beta cell function could mean insulin independence—in essence, a cure. Below is a summary of how far your support has allowed us to progress in beta cell replacement therapies. Islet Transplantation Previous islet cell transplantations have showed a lot of benefits for those with T1D. Clinical trial patients have seen improvements in glycemic control and some islet recipients remained independent from insulin for up to five years. While these transplants are not possible for widespread use—there are a limited number of available transplants and a need for strong immunosuppressive drugs to protect the donor cells from the continued immune attacks—this research was a big step forward in T1D research and brought us closer to the next step: encapsulation. Encapsulation Encapsulation aims to take the benefits of islet transplantation while eliminating the need for immunosuppressive drugs. By adding a protective barrier to beta cells before they are implanted, we can shield them from immune system attacks while still allowing insulin and glucose to flow through the cells and the pancreas. Researchers are getting close. A recent partnership between Eli Lilly and Sigilon Therapeutics—based on JDRF-funded work—is testing a cell encapsulation strategy that would make beta cells essentially unrecognizable to the immune system and free to function as they are meant to, while Novo Nordisk has recently announced its commitment to bring beta cell replacement closer to clinical trials. Gene Modification Other studies are exploring how to protect cells from the immune system attack from another angle. JDRF-funded research is seeking the answer to a vital question: How can the beta cell protect itself from the immune attack, without the need for a capsule or coating to shield it? Based on exciting progress made in genome editing technologies, T1D researchers are looking to edit the DNA sequences in the beta cell responsible for attracting immune cells. This technology could eliminate, or lessen, the need for encapsulation altogether by altering beta cells to alleviate the stress that triggers the attack and to protect themselves from autoimmune attacks.
  
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