How aging (senescent) insulin-producing beta cells affect Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
The role of senescent beta cells in T1D and T2D
This project will find out whether aged (senescent) insulin-making beta cells are common in people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and how they change beta-cell function.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11161400 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers will examine pancreas tissue from people with Type 1 diabetes, people in early or at-risk stages (pre-T1D), and people with Type 2 diabetes using advanced cell-level techniques to map which beta cells show signs of aging. They will profile those cells with single-cell RNA and chromatin tests, imaging mass cytometry, DNA methylation and histone mark analysis to define their molecular signatures. The team will also test whether telomere damage, metabolic stress, or inflammation can cause human beta cells to enter a senescent state and will measure how that state changes insulin secretion and the cell secretome. Findings come from donated human tissues and lab studies led by the University of Pennsylvania and collaborating groups.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Type 1 diabetes, people with Type 2 diabetes, and individuals at high risk or in early (pre-T1D) stages could be relevant as tissue donors or participants in sample-collection efforts at study sites.
Not a fit: People without diabetes or those with long-standing Type 1 diabetes who no longer have detectable beta cells are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to remove or reverse senescent beta cells and improve insulin production and blood sugar control for people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Previous mouse studies showed that broadly removing senescent cells improved diabetes outcomes, but targeting specific human beta-cell senescence is a new and unproven approach.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kaestner, Klaus H — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Kaestner, Klaus H
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.