Menschliche Magenzellen wurden optimiert, um Insulin zur Behandlung von Diabetes herzustellen: Wissenschaftler haben genetisch veränderte Organoide des menschlichen Magens verändert und diese in diabetische Mäuse transplantiert. Beim Einschalten des genetischen Schalters wandelten sich menschliche Magenzellen in insulinsekretierende Zellen um, um den Blutzuckerspiegel zu kontrollieren und Diabetes zu lindern.

**Human Stomach Cells Tweaked to Make Insulin to Treat Diabetes**

In their work published today in the journal Stem Cell Reports, the researchers now tested if the same can be done with human stomach within the body. To test this, the **researchers started off by making human stomach organoids, microscopic structures that model aspects of a normal stomach function. The stomach organoids were genetically engineered so that they could be transformed into pancreatic beta cells upon turning on a “genetic switch.” The stomach organoids were then transplanted into the abdominal region of mice where they survived and matured for up to six months and established connections with the surrounding tissues and the blood system. Upon turning on the “genetic switch,” the human stomach cells were converted to insulin secreting cells within the mice and resembled pancreatic beta cells with respect to gene and protein expression. Encouragingly, when those experiments were done with diabetic mice, insulin secreted from the transformed human cells helped control blood sugar levels and ameliorated diabetes**. The scientists hope that a similar approach can be taken to convert cells from a patient’s own stomach into insulin secreting cells directly within the body. Importantly, additional studies are needed to address if this approach is safe and effective to be used in patients.

For those interested, here’s the link to the peer reviewed journal article:

https://www.cell.com/stem-cell-reports/fulltext/S2213-6711(25)00312-1