A recent preclinical study by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine has introduced a promising pretreatment method that improves the survival of transplanted pancreatic islets in type 1 diabetes. These islets, which contain insulin-producing beta cells, are often destroyed shortly after transplantation, reducing the effectiveness of the therapy. The new approach, published in Cell Stem Cell on June 24, may help more patients benefit from fewer donor cells.
The research team, led by Dr. Shuibing Chen, developed a chemical screening method known as ChemPerturb-Seq, which uses small molecule barcoding and single-cell RNA sequencing. This innovative system allows the testing of numerous molecules in one experiment, significantly reducing time and cost. Through this approach, the team identified a combination of three molecules—beta-lipotropin, IGF-1, and prostaglandin E2—called LIP, which improved islet cell survival in female mice when transplanted under the skin.
However, LIP was ineffective in male mice. Using ChemPerturb-Seq again, the researchers discovered that adding histamine and serotonin to the mix—forming a new combination called LIPHS—restored the survival effect in male mice. This sex-specific response highlights the importance of personalized strategies in transplant medicine.
Dr. Chen noted that this strategy could reduce the number of donors required per patient and potentially shorten waiting times for islet transplantation. Unlike traditional transplants that place islets in the liver, subcutaneous transplantation paired with pretreatment may offer a safer and more effective alternative.
All screening data from the study is publicly available through the AI-powered ChemPerturbDB, designed to support further research and development.
The findings represent a major advancement in cell therapy for diabetes and open the door to more efficient and personalized treatment protocols.
