Current progress of human trials using stem cell therapy as a treatment for diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus affects millions of people worldwide, and is associated with serious complications that affect nearly all body systems. Because of the severity of this global health concern, there is a great deal of research being performed on alternative treatments and possible cures. Previous treatments for diabetes have included exogenous insulin injection and pancreatic islet transplantations. These treatment methods have several limitations; thus, the use of stem cells in treating diabetes is currently a significant area of research. This review outlines current research on stem cell therapy for diabetes mellitus. Numerous studies have been performed on animals using various types of stem cells, including mesenchymal stem cells and embryonic stem cells. Moreover, results and limitations of animal studies have been confirmed in various clinical trials. Overall, stem cell treatment shows prospective advantages over insulin injections and other current treatment options, and ongoing clinical trials suggest that this therapy may be a viable treatment option for diabetics in the near future.

Keywords: Diabetes; IPS cells; adult stem cells; embryonic stem cells; human trials; spermatogonial stem cells.

Figure 1

Overview of Stem Cell Educator Therapy. type 1 diabetic participant (left) is connected to a Blood Cell Separator (right) and the Stem Cell Educator (bottom center) to form a closed system. Lymphocytes isolated from the participant by the Blood Cell Separator travel through the Stem Cell Educator where they come in contact with cord blood stem cells attached to the interior surfaces of the device. Educated lymphocytes are returned to the patient’s blood circulation [15]. With permission from The Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.