Gene therapy to treat type 1

[Jeff]

I'm at the Diabetes Technology Conference in San Francisco, taking a brief break from sessions. One talk today was by a gentleman who is from a company that has a gene therapy technology to cure type 1 diabetes. Basically, they introduce insulin-producing DNA into gut cells that are already responsive to glucose levels and yield an alternative production source for insulin. In mouse models, this works -- the mice maintain normal blood sugar levels even when their beta cells are destroyed.

I'm interested in people's thoughts about genetic modification as a cure for type 1. Interesting? Scary? Too soon?

[Nancy in VA]

Interesting. Yes

Scary. Yes

Too soon. Absolutely not!!

Am I ready for it? Dunno yet.

[Ellen]

S C A R Y - My son will not be first in line for the treatment. What do you think Jeff?

[Budapest]

Sorry, but what are gut cells?

It sounds interesting, but even if this works it would not be available for years, no?

The genetic modification supposed to affect only these specific cells, right?

[mickdg]

Is this the company/technology?

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/health/mg19426085.700-stem-cell-genes-may-provide-medicines-dream-ticket.html

[Jeff]

Yes, that is in fact the gentleman who spoke at the Diabetes Technology Meeting (Anthony Cheung of enGene).

I'm going to try to bring him to CWD's 2008 Friends for Life conference to speak on biological efforts to cure type 1.

[Abby-Dabby-Doo]

I'm on the fence.

Sounds intriguing, but I'd like to know the dangers.

[madde]

This seems to be going in the right direction

Does it require immunosuppresion? If so, I don't think I would turn in my daughters insulin for this treatment, until that was dealt with.

[brokenheart]

I'm at the Diabetes Technology Conference in San Francisco, taking a brief break from sessions. One talk today was by a gentleman who is from a company that has a gene therapy technology to cure type 1 diabetes. Basically, they introduce insulin-producing DNA into gut cells that are already responsive to glucose levels and yield an alternative production source for insulin. In mouse models, this works -- the mice maintain normal blood sugar levels even when their beta cells are destroyed.

I'm interested in people's thoughts about genetic modification as a cure for type 1. Interesting? Scary? Too soon?

--------------
So, this is an approach very different from those efforts which attempt to regenerate beta cells in the pancreas or the liver.

Is such DNA generated internally of the T1 diabetes patient or does it have to be transplanted from the outside?

[mickdg]

Some recent related articles...

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/33399/title/Stomaching_diabetes

http://www.diabetesmine.com/2008/07/who-needs-b-cells-say-the-k-cells.html

[Ernst]

Jeff Hitchcock - (now more wealthy) President and Founder, CWD

Have you talked with the mice?