title: Preserved β-cell function in type 1 diabetes by mesenchymal stromal cells.
abstract: The retention of endogenous insulin secretion in type 1 diabetes is an attractive clinical goal, which opens possibilities for long-term restoration of glucose metabolism. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) constitute, based on animal studies, a promising interventional strategy for the disease. This prospective clinical study describes the translation of this cellular intervention strategy to patients with recent-onset type 1 diabetes. Twenty adult patients with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes were enrolled and randomized to MSC treatment or to the control group. Residual β-cell function was analyzed as C-peptide concentrations in blood in response to a mixed-meal tolerance test (MMTT) at 1-year follow-up. In contrast to the patients in the control arm, who showed loss in both C-peptide peak values and C-peptide when calculated as area under the curve during the 1st year, these responses were preserved or even increased in the MSC-treated patients. Importantly, no side effects of MSC treatment were observed. We conclude that autologous MSC treatment in new-onset type 1 diabetes constitutes a safe and promising strategy to intervene in disease progression and preserve β-cell function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden per-ola.carlsson@mcb.uu.se.
authors.forename: Per-Ola
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Carlsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Örebro University Hospital, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schwarcz
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Olle
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Korsgren
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Le Blanc
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D045164:Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*