澳洲新基因改良技术：不打胰岛素也能治糖尿病

Genetically modified cells could eliminate the need for daily injections to treat type 1 diabetes, experts have revealed.

专家透露，有了基因改良细胞，1型糖尿病患者就可不必天天注射胰岛素了。

The human cell line is genetically engineered to produce, store and release insulin in response to blood sugar levels in the human body.

人类细胞系经基因改造后，可随着人体内血糖水平的变化产生、储存并释放胰岛素。

Scientists said the insulin-producing 'Melligen' cells show promise as a possible cure for type 1 diabetes.

科研人员表示，产生胰岛素的“Melligen”细胞有望成为1型糖尿病的新疗法。

In type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys the pancreatic cells responsible for making insulin, a hormone crucial to converting blood sugar into energy.

1型糖尿病患者的免疫系统破坏了负责分泌胰岛素的胰腺细胞，而胰岛素是将血糖转化成能量的关键激素。

This month, they secured US patent protection for the cell line from the US Patent and Trademark Office.

这项细胞系技术本月获得美国专利商标局的专利保护.

Professor Ann Simpson, who led the team at the University of Technology, Sydney, said: 'My team and I are extremely pleased that the US patent for the Melligen cells has been granted.

悉尼科技大学的安•辛普森教授是该研究的领头人，她说道，“获得Melligen细胞的专利，我们整个团队都特别高兴。”

'This takes us a step closer to releasing diabetics from the need to inject insulin daily, and more importantly, protecting them from the debilitating complications of the disease, such as blindness, kidney failure and cardiovascular problems.'

“糖尿病患者要是能不用天天注射胰岛素就好了，而Melligen细胞让我们离这样的未来又近了一步，更重要的是，它还能保护患者，使其不因产生并发症而日渐虚弱，如失明、肾衰竭及心血管疾病。”

The researchers are now working with US clinical biotech firm PharmaCyte Biotech to develop the research into new treatments.

研究人员目前正与美国临床生物科技公司PharmaCyte Biotech合作，将该项研究开发成新型疗法。

PharmaCyte specialises in the development of targeted treatments for cancer and diabetes using its signature live cell encapsulation technology.

PharmaCyte公司运用其招牌技术——活细胞胶囊技术，专门研发癌症及糖尿病的靶向疗法。

This technology, known as Cell-in-a-Box, is a key process in the commercialisation of the Melligen cell as a revolutionary treatment.

该技术被称为Cell-in-a-Box，是Melligen细胞成为突破性疗法、实现商业化的一大关键。

'This is a culmination of many years' work by our group and we look forward to working with PharmaCyte's Diabetes Consortium to utilise the Cell-in–a-Box technology to encapsulate the cells for preclinical trials aimed at curing diabetes,' said Professor Simpson.

辛普森教授说道，“这是我们团队多年努力研究的结果，我们期待与PharmaCyte公司的糖尿病团队合作，在治疗糖尿病的临床前试验中利用Cell-in–a-Box技术将细胞胶囊化。”

'We anticipate that the capsule technology will protect the Melligen cells from the body's immune response that normally destroys foreign tissue, allowing the Melligen cells to be transplanted into humans.'

“我们预计胶囊技术能保护Melligen细胞不被人体免疫系统当成外来组织破坏掉，以便顺利植入人体。”

PharmaCyte's chief executive officer, Kenneth Waggoner, said: 'We at PharmaCyte consider ourselves to be very fortunate in having secured the exclusive world-wide licence to use the Melligen cells to develop a treatment for diabetes.

PharmaCyte首席执行官肯尼思•瓦戈纳说道，“PharmaCyte有幸获得全球独家许可，运用Melligen细胞研发糖尿病疗法，真的非常幸运。”

'For the millions of people worldwide who suffer from a disease of epidemic proportions, our treatment could relieve them of the onerous daily requirements for insulin administration and dietary restrictions and offer a life free from the very serious and even life-threatening complications associated with diabetes.'

“全球有数百万人患有糖尿病，与流行病患者比例不相上下。糖尿病患者每日均需注射胰岛素，饮食严格受限。糖尿病引起的并发症十分严重，甚至具有致命性。我们研发的疗法可令这类患者从中这堆麻烦中解脱，且不再受并发症的折磨。”

With the World Health Organization attributing more than 1.5 million deaths to diabetes in 2017 and more than 422 million adults suffering from the disease in 2017, the development has the potential to impact millions of lives.

世界卫生组织称，2017年有超过150万人因患糖尿病而死亡，2017年有超4.22亿成人患有糖尿病，这项研发可能令数百万人受益。