Pancreas gene offers treatment hope
Monday December 12th, 2011
British scientists have discovered a gene which plays a critical role in pancreas development, it was announced last night.
The gene has been linked to a rare condition which prevents the development of the pancreas.
But researchers hope it may open the way to the discovery of treatments to repair the pancreas - and to treat common conditions such as diabetes.
The discovery, led by researchers at the Peninsula College of Medicine, Exeter, Devon, UK, was reported last night in Nature Genetics.
The researchers have named the gene as GATA6. The mutation was found in 15 out of 27 people with the missing pancreas condition, pancreatic agenesis.
Researcher Professor Andrew Hattersley said: "This rare genetic condition has provided us with a surprising insight into how the pancreas develops.
"What is it that programmes cells to become pancreatic beta cells? Our study suggests that GATA6 plays a very important role in this process.
"We hope this will help the crucial work to try and make beta-cells for patients with type 1 diabetes."
Allen, HL et al. GATA6 haploinsufficiency causes pancreatic agenesis in humans. Nature Genetics; December 11 2011
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