Mechanisms and Drug-Augmenting Strategies of Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Preserving β-Cell in Type 2 Diabetes

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is closely linked to β-cell dysfunction. Preserving β-cell function has emerged as a critical therapeutic strategy for T2D. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have demonstrated remarkable potential in achieving this goal. This paper systematically reviews the multifaceted mechanisms by which MSCs protect pancreatic β-cell function in T2D. It integrates eight core mechanisms: modulating the inflammatory microenvironment, regulating the immune system, counteracting oxidative stress, enhancing autophagy levels, alleviating endoplasmic reticulum stress, safeguarding mitochondrial function, promoting β-cell regeneration and repair, and inhibiting ferroptosis. Together, these form a multi-layered, networked intervention system. This framework elucidates MSC protective effects across three functional levels: eliminating injury initiators, maintaining cellular homeostasis, and intervening in cellular fate outcomes. Additionally, this review examines pharmacological strategies to enhance MSC efficacy, including hypoglycemic agents, other drugs, and natural products, with a focus on their mechanisms of action and barriers to clinical translation. Finally, based on MSC advantages and existing research limitations, we propose future research directions, including optimizing MSC source selection and engineering MSC-derived exosomes. These recommendations aim to provide theo

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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