Attack of the Killer T-Cells
La Jolla Institute Develops Diabetes Research Technology
First ever live video of T-Cells attacking insulin producing Beta Cells
Reuters Ben Gruber reports that Dr. Matthias Von Herrath of the Diabetes Research Center at La Jolla institute, developed a technique to actually take video of T-Cells attacking insulin creating Beta Cells in the pancreas of a mouse. The method, using advanced microscopy techniques and live video, allows scientist’s to observe the cellular processes that cause diabetes in real time.
Diabetes (medically known as diabetes mellitus) is the name given to disorders in which the body has trouble regulating its blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels and is one of the world’s primary causes of blindness, heart disease, and kidney failure. Beta cells produce insulin which is a hormone that transfers sugar from the blood stream to cells that then convert it into energy. In a person with diabetes, the immune system actually attacks those Beta cells, choking off insulin production. Now that scientists can see the process, Dr. Von Herrath hopes new treatments can be developed to help the millions of people who live with diabetes
I hope you enjoy this video and look forward to your comments.
Bob
Read more about Dr. Matthias Von Herrath here
Read more about DIABETES RESEARCH CENTER, LA JOLLA INSTITUTE here
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