Fight Aging!

Researchers here transplant pancreatic islets from old to young mice and see restored function. They conclude that replacing the through altered levels of signal proteins, for example. So this is an interesting result that needs further investigation to determine whether or not it is just blood vessel declines producing this effect:

Islets, which contain the beta cells responsible for secreting the blood-glucose-regulating hormones insulin and glucagon, typically decrease in function with age. The researchers hypothesized that the decrease in function might not be due solely to a decrease in glucose-sensing or hormone-secreting capacity, but also to a decrease in blood supply caused by inflammation and scarring of the vessels. Replacing the islet vasculature in grafts transplanted into young mice restored the islets to full function, even at an advanced age. The study finding is significant because it suggests that targeting inflammation and fibrosis in the small blood vessels of the islet may offer new treatment options for diabetes.

To determine how revascularization might affect islet function, the researchers transplanted pancreatic islets from 18-month-old mice into the eyes of 2-month-old diabetic mice. [This is the equivalent to ages 65 and 18 in humans.] The transplanted islets, which had been revascularized with healthy blood vessels, exhibited strong beta cell proliferation and regained control of blood glucose levels within three months of transplantation. "This is an unexpected but highly important finding that we predict will have a significant impact on diabetes research in the future. The results indicate that beta cell function does not decline with age, and instead suggest that islet function is threatened by an age-dependent impairment in islet vascular function."

Link: http://med.miami.edu/news/young-blood-vessels-give-new-life-to-aging-islets-researchers-find