Mesenchymal Stem Cells Reverse Diabetes in C57 Strep Model

Santiago, Chile -

A recent paper (Ezquer et al. Systemic administration of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells reverts hyperglycemia and prevents nephropathy in type 1 diabetic mice. Biol Blood Marrow Transplant 008 Jun;14(6):631-40) described the therapeutic impact of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells administered to mice with experimental diabetes.

Streptozotocin is an antibiotic that at high doses kills pancreatic beta cells, rendering mice diabetic. 

The scientists injected streptozotocin into C57BL/6 mice and waited until the mice developed symptoms of diabetes such as glycosuria, hyperglycemia, and albuminuria. 

One group of mice was administered 500,000 mesenchymal stem cells intravenously, and the other recieved control cells.

One week after cell therapy administration reduction in blood glucose was seen, reaching normal levels in about a month after treatment.  The control mice had no improvements. 

This study is in agreement with other investigations that have demonstrated mesenchymal stem cells have possibilities to treat diabetes.  On the one hand, transfection of mesenchymal stem cells with various genes leads to generation of great "surrogate islets".  For example, Karnieli's group from Israel demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cells transfected with PDX-1 can reverse diabetes.  Kim's group from Korea transfected mesenchymal stem cells with proinsulin and demonstrated anti-diabetic effects. 

However, even without genetic manipulation, mesenchymal stem cells have been made to produce insulin in vitro.  For example Chang's group from Taiwan described culture conditions that stimulate differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells into Nkx6.1 positive insulin producing cells.

The exciting possibilities regarding mesenchymal stem cell therapy are that these cells can generally be used in an "universal donor" manner.  Mesenchymal stem cells secrete various immunomodulator agents such as HLA-G, which inhibit alloreactivity and in some cases may prevent autoimmunity as well.

Currently bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells, in a "universal donor" manner are being developed as a treatment for Crohn's and Graft versus Host Disease by the company Osiris.  Phase III clinical trials are underway.  Mesenchymal stem cells are also available as a fee for services outside the US at clinics such as Cellmedicine.