Pic Credit: © Hyunkee Kim
Researchers have transformed human stomach cells into functional insulin-secreting cells within living mice, offering a potential therapeutic strategy for type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes affects approximately 9.5 million people globally due to insufficient insulin production by pancreatic beta cells, requiring lifelong blood glucose monitoring and insulin administration.
Cellular reprogramming approach
Xiaofeng Huang from Weill Cornell Medicine and Qing Xia from Peking University investigated whether human gastric tissue could undergo cell conversion previously demonstrated in mice. Researchers utilised genetically engineered human stomach organoids with an inducible system allowing controlled transformation into pancreatic beta-like cells. Following transplantation into mice, organoids survived and integrated with host vasculature for up to six months.
Functional insulin secretion
Upon activation of the genetic switch, transplanted human stomach cells successfully converted into insulin-secreting cells exhibiting gene and protein expression profiles characteristic of pancreatic beta cells. When tested in diabetic mice, insulin secreted by the transformed cells contributed to blood glucose regulation and ameliorated diabetic symptoms.
The findings suggest that a patient’s own stomach cells could potentially be converted to insulin-secreting cells directly within the body, though additional studies are essential. Key questions include cell longevity, physiological responsiveness, and immunological considerations. This research expands the therapeutic toolkit for type 1 diabetes beyond traditional islet transplantation.
Reference:
Huang, X., & Xia, Q. (2025). Modeling in vivo induction of gastric insulin-secreting cells using transplanted human stomach organoids. Stem Cell Reports. Published online 6 November 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/jstemcr.2025.102708
