Posted on 01/24/2007 9:07:08 PM PST by hocndoc
For the first time, scientists have discovered that cells passed from mother to child during pregnancy can differentiate into functioning islet beta cells that produce insulin in the child. The same study also found that maternal DNA was found in greater amounts in the blood of children and young adults with Type 1 diabetes than their healthy siblings and a control group, implying that they may be attempting to repair damaged tissue.
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencedaily.com ...
Scientists have reported in the "Proceedings of the National Academies of Science (Free abstract) about the discovery that mother's stem cells may cross the placenta and that- in those babies who grow up and later develop Type I diabetes ("Juvenile Diabetes," or "Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitis") - some of those cells help repair the pancreas and make insulin.
The researchers thought they would find evidence that the maternal cells might actually cause the diabetes, but instead found that the maternal cells had become beta islet cells of the pancreas, the cells which produce insulin, and were functioning in a beneficial way, years later.
There are a couple of great stories today concerning diabetes. I've blogged about both of them. There's this story about maternal cells that cross the placenta and are recruited and functional in diabetics, and the report out of Korea about beta islet cells from cord blood.
Wow, interesting! Once on a stem cell discussion thread, when I brought up the fact that a mother carries cells from her children for the remainder of her life, someone pointed out how that would apply to Jesus and His Mother, Mary. Now, it appears the gift runs the other way also.
Adult Pancreas Stem Cells Can Make Insulin
Pig Cells 'May Reverse Diabetes'
New Applications For Cord Lining Stem Cells - Diabetes And Wound Healing
Diabetes In Mice Cured Using Non-Embryonic Sources
Diabetes Foundation Loses Its Way The Pro-Abortion Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Stem Cells May Help Bergen Boy Fight Diabetes
Adult Stem Cell Research Breakthrough Produces Insulin For Diabetics
Diabetes In Mice Cured Using Non-Embryonic Sources
Adult Pancreas Stem Cells Can Make Insulin
A Stem-Cell Defection, A Congressman Educates.
Stem cell cure hope for diabetes
Maternal microchimerism has fascinating implications for immunology and transplant surgery.
Type 1 diabetes ping.
What I learned from my last doc appointment (now that I'm damned near forty and insulin-dependent since 1994) is that mitochondrial RNA is consistent along MATERNAL lines.
Essentially, everyone's last name is "Eve", if you care to apply paternal conventions to biology.
What that means, to middle-aged childless men, is that, in the scheme of cultural-biology, the pressure to produce heirs is a cultural construct, exclusively. Childless eligible men rejoice, and step-dad with pride and equal determination!
CAVEAT:
Men, obviously, pass along secondary characteristics to heirs, including nasty little predispositions like Diabetes Mellitus. In the male's gamete, paternal mitochondrial RNA info is, essentially, stripped-off, and only DNA factors are passed along.
[Any geneticists here? Can I get a hand? I'm an accountant, with hamhanded knowledge, here!]
It means you might be less affected by diabetes if you're more of a moma's boy.
Since I'm a moma, let me say that you are and always will be your moma's boy. And now, you may owe her even more gratitude. So call her.
Thanks for the 'ping'...good news (all news, really) is very welcome.
Ever hopeful here :)
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