DRI Scientists Achieve Diabetes Reversal Using Small Peptide THR-123 in Preclinical Models
Key Insights
Scientists at the Diabetes Research Institute demonstrated that THR-123 (search), a small peptide, can trigger regeneration of insulin-producing beta cells and restore normal blood sugar levels in preclinical diabetes models.
The breakthrough builds on over a decade of research into dormant progenitor cells within pancreatic ducts that can be reactivated to form new pancreatic tissue when stimulated with specific growth factors.
THR-123 (search) is a BMP-7 mimetic peptide that offers advantages as a small, stable, and cost-effective treatment with prior clinical testing in unrelated conditions.
Scientists at the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) at the University of Miami have achieved a significant breakthrough in diabetes research, demonstrating that a small peptide called THR-123 (search) can trigger regeneration of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas and restore normal blood sugar levels in preclinical experimental models. The findings, published in Nature Communications, offer new hope for treating insulin-dependent diabetes through pharmacological means without requiring cell transplantation.
Breakthrough in Pancreatic Regeneration
Led by Drs. Juan Domínguez-Bendala and Ricardo Pastori at the DRI, this discovery builds on over a decade of work uncovering the potential of dormant progenitor cells that reside within the pancreatic ducts. These stem-like cells, found also in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D), can be reactivated to form new pancreatic tissue when stimulated with specific growth factors.
"This study confirms that the pancreas harbors a regenerative capacity we can pharmacologically awaken," said Dr. Juan Domínguez-Bendala, Director of Stem Cell and Pancreatic Regeneration Programs at the DRI. "It is the strongest evidence to date that regeneration from within is not just a concept: it is a testable, achievable strategy."
From BMP-7 to THR-123
Earlier work at the DRI demonstrated that BMP-7, a naturally occurring protein used clinically for other indications, could regenerate functional beta cells in ex vivo slices of the pancreas from T1D donors. The current study advances this concept by testing a BMP-7 mimetic, the peptide THR-123 (search), in live diabetic models.
THR molecules offer significant advantages as therapeutic agents, being small, stable, and cost-effective peptides with prior clinical testing in unrelated conditions, potentially streamlining the path toward human application.
Clinical Implications and Future Directions
"Our findings chart a clear course toward a new class of regenerative treatments for insulin-dependent diabetes," added Dr. Ricardo Pastori, Professor of Medicine at the University of Miami. "We are not just replacing lost cells, we are teaching the pancreas to heal itself."
The research was enabled by the use of advanced organotypic slice platforms and custom imaging technologies developed at the DRI, which allowed for direct observation of regeneration in both mouse and human pancreatic tissue.
Research Support and Mission
The study was partially supported by the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation and represents a significant step toward the Institute's mission to cure diabetes. The breakthrough demonstrates the potential for pharmacological approaches to diabetes treatment that work by awakening the pancreas's inherent regenerative capacity rather than relying on external cell replacement therapies.