据美国物理学家组织网近日报道，美国科学家把从老鼠子宫内膜提取出的干细胞转化为能产生胰岛素的细胞，并用其治疗罹患糖尿病的老鼠，结果发现具有一定的效果。科学家们表示，未来人们或可使用子宫内膜干细胞治疗糖尿病，相关研究发表于最新一期的《分子治疗》杂志上。
子宫内膜是成人干细胞的一个来源，它们也像其他干细胞一样能分裂成其他类型的细胞。最新研究表明，子宫内膜干细胞能被用来制造一般出现于胰腺中、可产生胰岛素的岛细胞，科学家们或可利用得到的岛细胞进行移植手术，用其来治疗糖尿病患者。
该研究团队的领导者、耶鲁大学的休·泰勒教授在含有特殊营养物质和生长因子的培养物中为子宫内膜干细胞“洗澡”，子宫内膜干细胞会因此吸收胰腺内产生胰岛素的β细胞的特性。经过3周孵化后，子宫内膜干细胞呈现出了β细胞的形状并开始制造出一般由β细胞制造的蛋白质，有些这样的细胞也制造胰岛素。
进食后，身体会将食物分解成葡萄糖等成分，这些成分接着会在身体内循环。作为回应，β细胞会释放出胰岛素，使身体细胞能吸收正在循环的葡萄糖。在最新研究中，泰勒团队将成熟的干细胞暴露于葡萄糖下，结果发现培育出来的细胞就像典型的β细胞一样，通过产生胰岛素对葡萄糖作出反应。接着，科学家们将这种成熟的、能制造胰岛素的干细胞注入罹患糖尿病的老鼠体内——它们体内起作用的β细胞很少，而且，血糖浓度很高。
科学家们发现，没有接受干细胞疗法老鼠的血糖浓度一直很高，出现白内障且昏昏欲睡；而接受干细胞治疗的老鼠非常活跃，也没有出现白内障症状，不过它们的血糖浓度也高于正常老鼠的血糖浓度。
泰勒表示：“子宫内膜干细胞可能是治疗Ⅰ型糖尿病的最好方法，Ⅰ型糖尿病患者的免疫系统破坏了身体本身制造胰岛素的细胞，结果导致没有胰岛素来控制血糖浓度。”他们将继续进行研究，弄清楚这种干细胞疗法的治疗效果能持续多长时间，以及改变营养物“浴液”的浓度或增加注射细胞的剂量是否能使该治疗方法更有效。（生物谷 Bioon.com）
doi:10.1038/mt.2011.173
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Derivation of Insulin Producing Cells From Human Endometrial Stromal Stem Cells and Use in the Treatment of Murine Diabetes
Xavier Santamaria, Efi E Massasa, Yuzhe Feng, Erin Wolff, Hugh S Taylor
Pancreatic islet cell transplantation is an effective approach to treat type 1 diabetes, however the shortage of cadaveric donors and limitations due to rejection require alternative solutions. Multipotent cells derived from the uterine endometrium have the ability to differentiate into mesodermal and ectodermal cellular lineages, suggesting the existence of mesenchymal stem cells in this tissue. We differentiated human endometrial stromal stem cells (ESSC) into insulin secreting cells using a simple and nontransfection protocol. An in vitro protocol was developed and evaluated by assessing the expression of pan β-cell markers, followed by confirmation of insulin secretion. PAX4, PDX1, GLUT2, and insulin, were all increased in differentiated cells compared to controls. Differentiated cells secreted insulin in a glucose responsive manner. In a murine model, differentiated cells were injected into the kidney capsules of diabetic mice and human insulin identified in serum. Within 5 weeks blood glucose levels were stabilized in animals transplanted with differentiated cells, however those treated with undifferentiated cells developed progressive hyperglycemia. Mice transplanted with control cells lost weight and developed cataracts while those receiving insulin producing cells did not. Endometrium provides an easily accessible, renewable, and immunologically identical source of stem cells with potential therapeutic applications in diabetes.
