Japan has studied the transplantation of pig islet cells to diabetics
According to Japanese media,recently, Japan's national international medical research center, Meiji university, Kyoto prefectural university, fukuoka university research team to start the development of the pig pancreas islet cell transplantation to the patients with type 1 diabetes, as the technology of artificial islet.
The Japanese government reportedly restricted the transfer of animal cells and tissues to human "xenotransplantation" in the past year and relaxed the rules in 2016.
The team will use a pig with similar organs to promote development.
As a means of making up for the lack of human organs, it is planned to be practical in 3 to 5 years.
People with type 1 diabetes account for a few percentage points of diabetes overall, and Japan is thought to have between 7 and 100,000 patients.
Since islet cells do not work, they cannot produce insulin that lowers their blood sugar levels, which can only be injected with insulin.
An organ transplant is needed to eradicate type 1 diabetes, but there is a shortage of donors.
Previous experiments with pig cells have been carried out in related countries.
The study group in Japan's health ministry relaxed the rules because there was no case of a specific virus in the related experiment.
It is reported that Japan Meiji university built a sterile pig farm.
The university will develop an investigation into pathogen infection in 2017.
The national center for international medical research is responsible for wrapping the pig's pancreas in materials that protect against immune rejection, in order to prevent rejection in the patient's body.
It is estimated that the research and development costs will be 150 million yen, which will be provided by the Japan IDDM network, a certified NPO legal person (non-profit organization) that supports the national type 1 diabetes patients and their families.
It is understood that New Zealand start-ups have developed artificial islets made using pig islets, and are advancing clinical trials in places such as Russia and New Zealand.
It is reported that the longest can reduce blood glucose target in about 2 years and reduce the incidence of hypoglycemia.