Insulin Independence after Fetal Liver-Derived Cell Suspension Allotransplantation in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Background: Cell-based treatments are currently being actively received great attention among scientists and clinicians for a variety of diseases as well as diabetes .The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of allotransplantation of fetal liver-derived cell suspension in patients with type 1 diabetes. Methods: Patients with type 1 diabetes (n=16) aged 6-30 years-old were included in the study. Fetal liver-derived cell suspension was transplanted by the means of intravenous injection patient. Results: In most of patient, blood glucose levels gradually decreased within the first day of infusion. Insulin independence occurred in 3 patients out of the 16 (18.7%) for 4 to 24 months. They showed increasing levels of serum c-peptide along with decreasing of levels of HbA1c level. In other patients, no significant changes in parameters of diabetes control were observed. Conclusion: Findings of this study indicated that transplantation of fetal stem cells could, although not permanently, be an effective therapeutic intervention in patients with type 1 diabetes. To demonstrate effectiveness of stem-cell therapy for treatment of diabetes, more clinical trials with stricter inclusion criteria, modified protocols, and larger number of patients and are necessary as well as long periods of follow up. Keywords: Stem cell, Type 1 diabetes, Allotransplantation, Fetal Liver-Derived Cell Suspension, Cell Therapy