The first successful transplants of pancreatic islet cells made news around the world. Yet, few diabetic patients have benefited from the promising therapy because of the extreme shortage of donated tissue.

At the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM), scientists are working to engineer pancreatic beta cells in the laboratory. The work involves a new type of stem cell derived from amniotic fluid. The project has been recognized by the National Institutes of Health for its potential to make a profound advance in health care.

WFIRM scientists discovered a small number of stem cells in amniotic fluid and placenta – estimated at 1 percent – that can give rise to many of the specialized cell types found in the human body. The scientists believe the stem cells, which they have named amnion-derived stem (AS) cells, may represent an intermediate stage between embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. They have markers consistent with both cell types.

Scientists hope the cells will be a valuable resource for organ engineering and tissue repair. In the pancreas project, the team is aiming at coaxing the cells to differentiate into pancreatic insulin-producing cells. The ultimate goal is to produce cells that are able to regulate insulin levels based on the amount of glucose the cells are exposed to. The group is currently assessing function by injecting the cells into a mouse model of diabetes. Of course, many steps will have to be completed before the therapy could be applied to humans.

The work is funded by a Quantum Grant from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and BioEngineering, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and other sources.