title: Transplantation of islet-like cell clusters derived from human dental pulp stem cells restores normoglycemia in diabetic mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The success of islet transplantation for diabetes depends on the availability of an adequate number of allogeneic or autologous islets. Postnatal stem cells are now considered for the generation of physiologically competent, insulin-producing cells. Our group showed earlier that it is possible to generate functional islets from human dental pulp stem cells by using a serum-free cocktail in a three-step protocol.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared the yield of generated islet-like cell clusters (ICCs) from stem cells from pulps of human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) and dental pulp stem cells from permanent teeth (DPSCs). ICCs derived from SHED were packed in immuno-isolatory biocompatible macro-capsules and transplanted into streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. Non-diabetic and diabetic controls were transplanted with macro-capsules with or without islets.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SHED were superior to DPSCs. STZ diabetic mice alone and mice transplanted with empty macro-capsules exhibited hyperglycemia throughout the experiment, whereas mice transplanted with macro-capsules containing ICCs were restored to normoglycemia within 3-4 weeks, which persisted for >60 days.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results demonstrate for the first time that ICCs derived from SHED reverse STZ diabetes in mice without immunosuppression and offer an autologous and non-controversial source of human tissue that could be used for stem cell therapy in diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Manipal Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Manipal University, Bangalore, India.
authors.forename: Mohammad Mahboob
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kanafi
authors.forename: Yajaman Bajjappa
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Rajeshwari
authors.forename: Sarita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Nidheesh
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dadheech
authors.forename: Prabha Damodaran
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Nair
authors.forename: Pawan Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Ramesh Ramchandra
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Bhonde
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003782:Dental Pulp / Q000473:pathology*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D014094:Tooth, Deciduous / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin
keywords: diabetes; human postnatal dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs); islet-like cells clusters (ICCs); stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED); transplantation