Stem Cell Therapy to Cure Type 1 Diabetes: From Hype to Hope

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is a chronic, multifactorial autoimmune disease that involves the progressive destruction of pancreatic β-cells, ultimately resulting in the loss of insulin production and secretion. The goal of clinical intervention is to prevent or arrest the onset and progression of autoimmunity, reverse β-cell destruction, and restore glycometabolic and immune homeostasis. Despite promising outcomes observed with islet transplantation and advancements in immunomodulatory therapies, the need for an effective cell replacement strategy for curing T1D still persists. Stem cell therapy offers a solution to the cited challenges of islet transplantation. While the regenerative potential of stem cells can be harnessed to make available a self-replenishing supply of glucose-responsive insulin-producing cells, their immunomodulatory properties may potentially be used to prevent, arrest, or reverse autoimmunity, ameliorate innate/alloimmune graft rejection, and prevent recurrence of the disease. Herein, we discuss the therapeutic potential of stem cells derived from a variety of sources for the cure of T1D, for example, embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem cells, and multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells derived from bone marrow, umbilical cord blood, and adipose tissue. The benefits of combinatorial approaches designed to ensure the successful clinical translation of stem cell therapeutic strategies, such as approaches combining effective stem cell strategies with islet transplantation, immunomodulatory drug regimens, and/or novel bioengineering techniques, are also discussed. To conclude, the application of stem cell therapy in the cure for T1D appears extremely promising.

Problems with adherence to treatment among adolescents with diabetes mellitus type 1

“…Diabetes Mellitus is a metabolic disorder that occurs by several factors and is characterized by high level of glucose in the blood, which can occur as a result of the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic β cells, gradually resulting in disability or partial absolute insulin in the body, or by tissue resistance to insulin action, which in both cases can lead to macro-and microvascular complications [1][2] .…”

Adipose tissue macrophages in non-rodent mammals: a comparative study

“…In rodents and primates, the SVF contains mesenchymal stem cells and various immune cells (Cinti 2012). The functions of the SVF cells are the subject of intensive research today, since they have the potential to impede obesity development and to resolve obesity-associated immune and metabolic dysfunctions (Chhabra and Brayman 2013;Paek et al 2014). The stem cells of the SVF differentiate into mature adipocytes and thus, the inhibition of their differentiation program can be an approach against obesity (Rosen and Spiegelman 2014).…”

In vitro expansion and differentiation of rat pancreatic duct-derived stem cells into insulin secreting cells using a dynamicthree-dimensional cell culture system

“…Research has increasingly focused on developing new sources of islet cells (Ramiya et al, 2000;Shapiro et al, 2006;Chhabra and Brayman, 2013;Schiesser and Wells 2014). It has been reported that fat cells, bone marrow stem cells, skin cells, and embryonic stem cells can be differentiated into cells that are able to secrete insulin (Bhonde et al, 2014).…”