Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42556326›Full record

ArticleStem cells translational medicine2026

Ghrelin and relamorelin counteract hypoglycemia in mice engrafted with congenital hyperinsulinism stem cell-derived islets.

Väinö Lithovius, Hossam Montaser, Jonna Saarimäki-Vire, Hazem Ibrahim, Tom Barsby, Diego Balboa, Timo Otonkoski

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Article in Stem cells translational medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Väinö LithoviusStem Cells and Metabolism Research Program of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00290, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-1537-5548
Hossam MontaserStem Cells and Metabolism Research Program of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00290, Finland.
Jonna Saarimäki-VireStem Cells and Metabolism Research Program of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00290, Finland.
Hazem IbrahimStem Cells and Metabolism Research Program of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00290, Finland.
Tom BarsbyStem Cells and Metabolism Research Program of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00290, Finland.
Diego BalboaStem Cells and Metabolism Research Program of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00290, Finland.
Timo OtonkoskiStem Cells and Metabolism Research Program of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, 00290, Finland.

Funding

Academy of FinlandCenter of Excellence "Metastem" #312437Novo Nordisk Foundation NNF22OC0078484
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionKATP-channel-related hyperinsulinism (KATPHI) is a rare genetic disorder of the pancreatic beta cells, manifesting as life-threatening hypoglycemia in neonates due to excessive insulin secretion. Management of the severe diffuse form of KATPHI currently lacks treatment options, as the first-line therapy octreotide is often insufficiently effective, necessitating radical pancreatectomy in many patients.

methodsIn this study, we differentiated stem cells carrying the KATPHI-causing mutation KCNJ11-/- to stem cell-derived islets (SC-islets) to develop new pharmaceutical therapies for KATPHI. We tested seven candidate molecules in vitro and the most effective ones in vivo in immunocompromised mice that were transplanted with the human KCNJ11-/- SC-islets.

resultsKCNJ11 -/- SC-islets inappropriately secreted 3.9 times more insulin in low glucose than KCNJ11+/+ controls. Transplanted KCNJ11-/- SC-islets caused persistent hyperinsulinemia and hypoglycemia to the recipient mice. We tested acyl-ghrelin identified in our in vitro experiments and its long-acting analogue relamorelin in these mice. Acyl-ghrelin and relamorelin alone increased fasting blood glucose. Combining relamorelin with octreotide increased blood glucose synergistically, ie, more than the sum of each drug alone, reverting hypoglycemia to normoglycemia while reducing the excessive insulin secretion.

conclusionsWe show that ghrelin-receptor agonists have acute anti-hypoglycemic effects in a humanized mouse model of KATPHI, especially when combined with octreotide. Relamorelin has been tested in >650 diabetic adults with little side effects, leading us to propose relamorelin-octreotide combination for further development as a therapeutic candidate for severe KATPHI patients.

Indexed as

Congenital HyperinsulinismGhrelinHypoglycemiaIslets of LangerhansIslets of Langerhans TransplantationStem CellsAnimalsHumansKcnj11 ChannelMiceOctreotidePotassium Channels, Inwardly RectifyingGhrelinKcnj11 ChannelOctreotidePotassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifyingcongenital hyperinsulinismdisease modelingghrelinhypoglycemiastem cell-derived islets

Identifiers

PMID42556326
PMCPMC13441175

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.