an idea?

[payam7777777]

we know scientists can nowadays produce/breed new/altered/reinforced/different versions/generations of plants/animals using genetics science.

we also know that the main problem with edmonton protocol or any other treatment (stem cells) that is based on 'implanting' beta cells is the side effects of immunosuppression drugs.

now, what if they genetically manipulate [produced-from-stem-cell] beta cells so that they can survive immune system's attacks. hence the need for immunosuppression drugs would be alleviated? something like this:
the paitients walks into the hospital
they produce/genetically manipulate betta cells from his/her cells
inject in into his/her body
and bingo! -no need for immunosuppression drugs

this came into my mind today and looked too good to be true, i though it would be worth checking to see wether or not scientists have though about this approach. what do you know?

[Momof4gr8kids]

Payam, Good idea, but here is the issue. Beta cells reproduce, and die. That has been the issue with the coated, and capselated beta cells. Now if like you suggest, they could mess with the genetics of them and make them reproduce more beta cells that are resistant to the immune attack that may work. I wonder if anyone is looking at that.

[Ellen]

Dr. Fenjves is a gem...If anyone is interested in touring the Diabetes Research Institute in Miami, you can meet her as well as many other brilliant and approachable researchers who are more than thrilled to share what they are doing. DRI belives strongly in collaborating with researchers worldwide.

http://www.diabetesresearch.org/AbouttheDRI/DRIFaculty/ElizabethFenjves.htm


http://www.diabetesresearch.org/NR/rdonlyres/B51724F5-71F9-478B-B55F-0F38F6E73DB1/997/FenjvesElizabeth1.JPG
Elizabeth Fenjves, Ph.D.

Dr. Elizabeth Fenjves is Director of Gene Therapy at the Diabetes Research Institute. She is also an Associate Professor of Medicine with secondary appointments in Pediatrics and Dermatology at the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami.

Dr. Fenjves’ research over the last 15 years has been focused on exploring the transfer of therapeutic genes to treat metabolic disorders. Her lab has been researching two major areas of investigation. In the first, viral vectors are being tested, to allow efficient, stable and safe transfer of genes that protect islets in the transplant setting.

Concomitant with this her group is examining the efficacy of different genes in protecting islets as part of the effort to optimize islet transplantation as a cure for type 1 diabetes.

Enhancing the level of protective genes or down-regulating genes which damage transplanted islets form parts of this approach.

The second area focuses on protecting islets from destruction in culture by adding proteins that are part of the tissue called the extracellular matrix (ECM). The ECM affects both the survival and the regenerative potential of islets in the pancreas and they serve as a natural cellular scaffold.

Dr. Fenjves’ research is focusing on the damage done by the disruption of cellular connections to the ECM and whether there is benefit in reconstructing an ECM that mimics the natural setting for the islets.

Dr. Fenjves has published her findings in journals such as Human Gene Therapy, Diabetes and Transplantation. She has held an independent research grant from the American Diabetes Association and is a participant in a Center Grant from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Furthermore she has various collaborations with Pharmaceutical companies interested in her line of research. She is an active member of the American Society for Gene Therapy, The International Society of Transplantation and The American Transplantation Society.