Chinese scientists have announced a significant medical breakthrough in the treatment of type-1 diabetes through the use of stem cell transplants. A 25-year-old woman suffering from chronic type-1 diabetes was reported to have been cured after undergoing this revolutionary treatment. The patient, from Tianjin, was able to naturally regulate her blood sugar levels just two and a half months following a minimally invasive procedure, which was completed in only half an hour. This development was reported by the Shanghai-based news outlet, The Paper, and cited by news agency PTI. The research findings were published last week in the peer-reviewed journal, Cell, and involved experts from Tianjin First Central Hospital and Peking University.
The Chinese research team had received official approval to proceed with this clinical research in June of the previous year, subsequently conducting the first transplant on the Tianjin woman. The treatment employed “chemically induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived islets” (CiPSC islets). The process began with the collection of adipose tissue cells from the patient. These cells were then reprogrammed into pluripotent stem cells using small molecule chemicals. Once reprogrammed, these pluripotent stem cells were transformed into islet cells and transplanted back into the patient. Since these islet cells were derived from the patient’s own body, issues related to immune rejection were successfully avoided.
The patient had been battling type-1 diabetes for over 11 years, and her condition had led to considerable health challenges. Previously, she had undergone two liver transplants and one unsuccessful pancreatic islet cell transplant. Her condition resulted in wide fluctuations in blood glucose levels, and she experienced numerous episodes of severe hypoglycemia. However, following the CiPSC islet transplant, significant improvements were observed. The woman's fasting blood glucose levels began to normalize gradually, and her reliance on external insulin reduced steadily.
Approximately 75 days after the CiPSC islet transplant, she was completely able to discontinue the use of insulin injections. After five months, her blood sugar levels remained within the desired range for over 98 percent of the time. According to the researchers, this stability has been sustained, demonstrating the effectiveness of the treatment. The results were deemed highly promising by the research team, who also reported that after a year, no abnormalities related to the transplant were observed.
An interesting aspect of the treatment was the decision to transplant the islet cells into the abdominal muscles rather than the liver. This was done to mitigate inflammation risks, which are common in traditional islet transplants. The team opted for a minimally invasive injection, with the shallow site of transplantation facilitating easier imaging monitoring, and providing the option to retrieve the cells if necessary. The team reported that all clinical endpoints were met, and no transplant-related complications occurred.
The traditional method of performing islet transplants involves taking islet cells from the pancreas of a deceased donor and implanting them in the liver of a patient with type-1 diabetes. Although this method has shown clinical effectiveness, it is limited by the scarcity of suitable donors. In type-1 diabetes, islet cells are critical as they are responsible for producing hormones such as insulin and glucagon, which are essential for maintaining proper blood glucose levels. The shortage of donors has been a significant barrier in making this therapy widely available.
Stem cell therapy, however, has opened up new possibilities for treating diabetes. The ability to reprogram a patient's cells into insulin-producing islets eliminates the dependence on donor availability, while also reducing the risk of immune rejection. This approach could potentially become a game-changer in managing and eventually curing type-1 diabetes.
The research team has emphasized the importance of further clinical studies to validate the effectiveness of CiPSC islet transplants for type-1 diabetes treatment. While the findings from this single patient are highly promising, more extensive trials will be required to confirm the safety and efficacy of this new therapy. If successful, the method could revolutionize the way diabetes is treated globally, offering hope to millions of patients who struggle to manage the disease.
Reference:
1. Wan, Xin-Xing, Dan-Yi Zhang, Md Asaduzzaman Khan, Sheng-Yuan Zheng, Xi-Min Hu, Qi Zhang, Rong-Hua Yang, and Kun Xiong. “Stem Cell Transplantation in the Treatment of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: From Insulin Replacement to Beta-Cell Replacement.” Frontiers in endocrinology, March 18, 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8972968/.
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