A therapy that includes stem cell transplantation induced extended insulin independence in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, according to a preliminary study in the April 11 issue of JAMA.
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) results from a cell-mediated autoimmune attack against pancreatic beta cells. At the time of clinical diagnosis, approximately 60 percent to 80 percent of the beta-cell mass has been destroyed, according to background information in the article. Beta-cell preservation has been shown to be an important target in the management of type 1 DM and in the prevention of its related complications.
Julio C. Voltarelli, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil, in collaboration with Richard Burt, M.D., of the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, and colleagues conducted a study to examine the effect of high-dose immunosuppression followed by autologous nonmyeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHST) to preserve beta-cell function in 15 newly diagnosed patients with type 1 DM. AHST, which uses a patient’s own blood stem cells, involves the removal and treatment of the stem cells, and their return to the patient by intravenous injection.
During a 7 to 36-month follow-up, 14 patients became insulin-free (one for 35 months, four for at least 21 months, seven for at least six months; and two with late response were insulin-free for one and five months, respectively). Among those, one patient resumed insulin use one year after AHST. The only severe adverse effects were pneumonia in one patient and endocrine dysfunction in two others.
“This is, to our knowledge, the first report of high-dose immunosuppression followed by autologous nonmyeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for human type 1 DM. Very encouraging results were obtained in a small number of patients with early-onset disease. Ninety-three percent of patients achieved different periods of insulin independence and treatment-related toxicity was low, with no mortality. Further follow-up is necessary to confirm the duration of insulin independence and the mechanisms of action of the procedure. In addition, randomized controlled trials and further biological studies are necessary to confirm the role of this treatment in changing the natural history of type 1 DM and to evaluate the contribution of hematopoietic stem cells to this change,” the authors conclude.
Source: JAMA and Archives Journals
Biosingularity 
Hello,
I’m type 1 diabetic,52 years old. Certainly wish for a cure to taking insulin. I wonder it the latest research is the light at the end of the tunnel or has a string attached such as taking immunosuprescent drugs.
Thankyou James Hicks
i am not diabetic but i wish there’s a cure for diabetes, even though there are ethical issues against stem cell researching, i am a christian and i have no problem with stem cell research as long as there’s no playing God in situations like this.
I am a doctor and my 5 years old daughter is insulindependant diabetic. I wish to donate my Stem cells which have the potential of producing Insulin(the “C-cells”) not only to my daughter(which, of course I will in case my H.L.A.Type matches with that of her’s); but, in case it does not match, I wish to donate them for any other patient of Diabetes.
Hi. My 3 year old son – Adrian was diagnoz 6 weeks agow. I am lookin for any informations, trails or clinick that do stem cells, if you have any information please write done. Good luck with you daughter.
Aneta Paluszczak