The Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in the Treatment of Type 1 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 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic disease characterized by inadequate or absent insulin production due to the autoimmune destruction of beta (β) cells in the pancreas. It was once called "juvenile diabetes" since the disease frequently occurs in children, but it can also develop in adults. According to the International Diabetes Federation, an estimated 700 million adults will suffer from diabetes by 2045. Although the exact cause of diabetes remains unknown, it is hypothesized that genetic factors, environmental factors, and exposure to certain viruses play a role in the development of T1D. To date, exogenous insulin is the most common treatment for T1D. However, it is not a cure for the disease. Islet cell transplantation and pancreatic transplantation are two additional treatments that have gained popularity in recent years, but their clinical application may be limited by the need for high doses of immunosuppressants, the rarity of human cadaveric islets, and the need for extensive surgery in pancreatic transplantation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a highly promising novel treatment for T1D and their discovery has advanced biological sciences by allowing for modification of cell fate and the development of higher-order cellular structures. They play an essential role in lowering levels of fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c, and C-peptide, and in treating microvascula

Evidence level

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

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