title: Is Stem Cell Transplantation Ready for Prime Time in Diabetic Polyneuropathy?
abstract: Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) is the most common complication that emerges early in patients who have diabetes. Curative treatment for overt or symptomatic DPN has not been established, requiring much effort to explore new modalities. Thus, the use of various kinds of stem cells as a potential therapeutic option for DPN is of particular interest. The beneficial effects were proposed to be attributed to either cytokine released from transplanted stem cells or the differentiation of stem cells to substitute the damaged peripheral nerve. Furthermore, based on the concept that humoral factors secreted from stem cells play a pivotal role in tissue regeneration, the utilization of conditioned medium derived from the stem cell culture serves as a novel tool for regenerative therapy. However, many questions have not been yet answered to determine whether stem cell therapy is essential in clinical application of DPN. In this report, we review the current status of preclinical studies on stem cell therapy for DPN and discuss future prospects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8562, Japan. hirokim@hirosaki-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Hiroki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mizukami
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, 5 Zaifu-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori, 036-8562, Japan.
authors.forename: Soroku
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yagihashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000494:pharmacology; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned
keywords: Cell therapy; Diabetic polyneuropathy; Mesenchymal stem cell; Stem cell