Utility of mesenchymal stem cell therapy in type 1 diabetes

Abstract

Clinical trials are underway to test the therapeutic effi cacy of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in a number of diseases with no curative therapy available, including type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D). Due to their plasticity, MSCs fi rst gained interest in cell-based tissue engineering; however, given their low immunogenicity and profound immunodulatory effects, MSCs are now receiving much attention as a cell-based therapy for immunemediated disorders. The use of MSCs in T1D holds potential in three different disciplines: systemic injection of MSCs to suppress autoreactive T cells; co-transplantation with islet allografts to enhance islet engraftment in an immuno-privileged microenvironment; and differentiation of MSCs into insulin-producing cells (IPC). We are focusing on the potential translation of MSCs therapy for clinical development to treat T1D.