Another author maintains the results are still valid and did not join in the retraction request, the journal said. A fifth author is deceased.
In Type 1, or juvenile, diabetes, the body mistakenly attacks insulin-producing cells. Patients must inject themselves with insulin to survive. The researchers reported eliminating the disease in rodents by slipping into them a man-made gene designed to produce an insulin-like chemical.
The authors wrote at the time that the approach might be useful for humans. But diabetes experts told The Associated Press in November 2000 that it wasn't clear the treatment would work in people.
NEW YORK AND TRI-STATE AREA NEWS
USEFUL LINKS:
SEND TIP OR PHOTO || REPORT TYPO || GET WIDGET
EYEWITNESS TWITTER || FIND US ON FACEBOOK