Autologous umbilical cord blood transfusion in young children with type 1 diabetes fails to preserve C-peptide

Abstract

OBJECTIVE - We conducted an open-label, phase I study using autologous umbilical cord blood (UCB) infusion to ameliorate type 1 diabetes (T1D). Having previously reported on the first 15 patients reaching 1 year of follow-up, herein we report on the complete cohort after 2 years of follow-up. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - A total of 24 T1D patients (median age 5.1 years) received a single intravenous infusion of autologous UCB cells and underwent metabolic and immunologic assessments. RESULTS - No infusion-related adverse events were observed. β-Cell function declined after UCB infusion. Area under the curve C-peptide was 24.3% of baseline 1 year postinfusion (P < 0.001) and 2% of baseline 2 years after infusion (P < 0.001). Flow cytometry revealed increased regulatory T cells (Tregs) (P = 0.04) and naive Tregs (P = 0.001) 6 and 9 months after infusion, respectively. CONCLUSIONS - Autologous UCB infusion in children with T1D is safe and induces changes in Treg frequency but fails to preserve C-peptide. © 2011 by the American Diabetes Association.