Silencing ALDH3B2 turns pancreatic ductal cells into insulin producers

Researchers at Harvard Medical School suppressed the ALDH3B2 gene in pancreatic ductal cells, raising the share that converted into beta-like cells from under 1% to about 8.5%. Transplanted into diabetic mice, the cells produced human insulin and brought glucose levels near normal for six weeks.

• Silencing ALDH3B2 raised ductal-to-beta-like conversion from <1% to 8.5%
• Glucose in diabetic mice fell to near-normal levels and stayed there for six weeks
• ALDH3B2 is active in many cell types, so precise editing is required
• About 830 million people worldwide live with diabetes